Money or Happiness?

I can’t seem to choose

Being at Baruch has just made me more confused

I dont know why I’m here,what I’m doing, where I’m going, and when I’m going to get it together

And It seems like everyone has got it figured out except for me

For as long as I can remember,  I’ve never knew what I wanted to be

Its something that really bothers me

I should do something practical, but I have no interest in the Zicklin School of Business

I feel like it would suck the life out of me

I wish this decision wasn’t so difficult to make

I dont want to live a life doing something that I hate

I hate thinking about the future, its something I try to avoid

Hopefully, I’ll figure something out soon

And I’ll finally be able to choose

Money or Happiness.

A stroll in the park often constitutes contemplation. The sky becomes a mellower shade of blue. The trees; swaying metaphors. And the people become objects of interest and people watching. Every morning I methodically leave the train station situated on the corner of east twenty – third street and sixth avenue. Everyday I hurriedly walk past Madison Square Park. As a native New Yorker, it was quite embarrassing to admit that I had never stepped foot onto the famous landmark. And so with a Starbucks grande coffee in hand, I embarked on my morning adventure. The morning air was cool and refreshing.I could feel autumn arriving. The tree leaves were speckled with brown, torn between a decision of past summer foliage and the impending winter. I sipped on my pumpkin spice latte and thought hard about my transition into college. I was thoroughly enjoying my college life, but I was becoming increasingly drained out each week. I was in a routine of waking up super early, hustling my way to school then dashing home after classes commenced. I mentally sorted out my week’s work while my feet robotically took me deeper into the park. Then it struck me. I had dedicated my morning to discovering a new aspect of Manhattan.I was in a new place physically but mentally I was exploring familiar realms of schoolwork anxiety. I needed to focus on my purpose and let go of tedious worries. So to stop my robotic aimless walking I sat down at the nearest bench and let go. My last few moments in the park were glorious. It felt amazing to know that there was a perfect getaway spot from the Manhattan rush around me. The juxtaposition of the intimidating looming buildings and the grass beneath my feet was comforting. As I walked back towards twenty-third street, I smiled, took a mental note of the Shake Shack and promised myself that I would be back. I was ready for my day.

Started attending Baruch for almost 2 months, I still can’t believe that I am now a Baruch student. When I was applying college in my early senior year, I wanted to major in fashion, so I applied for Berkeley College and FIT. I was so excited about getting into college soon; I felt like I could finally study something that I really interested in. However, suddenly, I felt like studying in fashion field wasn’t really my thing and I would have difficulties in getting a job after graduated. Therefore, I started thinking about other colleges that I have applied for. I didn’t really find a major that I would like to study and college that I like a lot. However, the date of deadline to register was approaching, while I still had no idea which college should I go. I only knew that I wanted to stay in NYC, so CUNY colleges would be my choice. Yet, since I did not think that I would attend to one of CUNY college, I just picked random majors when I was applying for CUNY colleges.

On the last day of register, May 1st, I still didn’t figure out where do I want to go. Therefore, I just picked Baruch College because I have a close friend that studies in Baruch too, and also my sister studies in Baruch. I thought it would be easier for me if I have questions regarding to Baruch, classes, or the facility. After I started attending, I think what got me the most tiring was the commute; I was almost late for like everyday. I’m still figuring out what do I really want to do and thinking is Baruch the place that I want to be in.

Moving from Colombia to New York City brought many drastic changes to my life. My first year living in the big city brought many surprises, almost giving me a sense that it was just a really long vacation. The massive number of people, the buildings, the bright lights, and the fact that everyone seems to be in a rush all the time was very surreal.  Slowly, what was once very unusual about this lifestyle became very ordinary and natural. I too found myself starting to have an irrational hatred of slow walking tourists that seem to have a habit of stopping in the middle of the street to take photos and waste a few valuable seconds off my day. Unknowingly, I gladly became a New Yorker. Im happy to live in the best city in the world, and I love New York.

Life; it is a thing people take for granted.

We live our dailies lives in blissful ignorance to all that is happening around us as it is unimportant.

We breathe, eat, play, work.

And we make memories, many of which are ingrained into ourselves.

I for a long time have made it a habit, to think about things.

What I did in the past, what I will do in the future.

What was right, what was wrong.

How i can change, what i should not change.

All of which may seem irrelevant, but it means a lot to look at the small things in life.

To make new memories, important and unimportant.

all things big or small, happy or sad.

I feel that simply living, doing the same old mundane routine is not living.

No it is not, rather making memories is living.

One truly feels alive when they do something that is memorable.

What would life be, besides a simple Tale of Memories?

I feel lost and confused. Like a small kid  looking for his mom in a busy mall. What’s my schedule ? What time do I start? What time do I end? Where’s this class? Damn, I’m late again…I wish things were simpler

This place seems so foreign. So many people rushing to different places. Some with coffee in their hands, some with laptops, and I’m holding up the line because my ID card won’t swipe. I wish things were simpler.

Like maybe if my classes started at 10. Or maybe if they’re wasn’t any homework. Everything seems to be a hassle. I have to pay for the stupid metro card now. The trains run on some insane schedule. The train smells like pee. i wish things were simpler

I missed this train so if i get on the next one I have 50 minutes to get to class. 49.48.47.46. I forgot my extra clothes for the gym. My headphones are broken. I’m tired. My sock has a hole in it. Is this college life ? Why does mine suck so much ? I wish things were simpler.

I miss high school. But this is my life now. Time to man up and fight like a grown up. No more complaints and no more excuses. Sleep early and finish all your homework. Study some more and eat cleaner. I’m an adult now……

38 minutes. Screw this train. Im going home. I wish things were simpler.

The stadium I hope to visit one day, The Santiago Bernabeu

Walking, Running,

Thinking, and Talking

Sometimes you just need to close your eyes.

Shut everything down, and keep your mind empty.

At this time, you need to forget about that homework you need to do during your gap.

Forget about that bad test grade, and forget about that boring movie in anthropology class that’s challenging your eyes to shut down.

It is essential for me to get enough sleep to get through my day.

Whether it is a couple of hours or a couple of minutes of sleep,

a few minutes may be able to change the energy level throughout my day.

To me , sleep is a state when I am at peace. Although sleep may not symbolize me as a whole, it is a essential part of me.

So now, shut everything down, and keep your mind empty.

Before coming to Baruch, I did not have much experience in the city. Growing up on Long Island was a completely different experience. Most of you have stereotypes about living on Long Island and most of them are true. There is a CVS or 7-Eleven on every corner. Almost everyone you know played lacrosse at one point or is still a LAX bro. Everybody does loves Billy Joel a little bit too much. Everyone’s parents are either originally from Brooklyn or Queens. Everyone knows someone who knows Lindsay Lohan or her brother Cody. You aren’t really a Long Islander until you’ve been to the Montauk lighthouse. Sweet 16s cost just as much as weddings. Everyone is at least a little Italian or Irish. Every shopping center has at least one pizza place, bagel place or a deli. And no there really isn’t as much traffic as everyone thinks. I’m proud to have my phone number start with 516.

In interest of reaching 250 words, I’ll ramble on about different things I think are of relatively major issue.

We’ll start with life.

So.. life is an interesting topic.

What’s the meaning of it? What’s the goal?

I don’t know about the meaning or goal,

but what I do know is that a 100 years from now, we’re probably all going to die.

Unless we have some sort of capsule that keeps us alive – that’d be really cool.

I digress.

In a billion, the Sun is gonna consume Earth.

Eventually, the Universe is going to end through proton decay or heat-death.

Not pretty.

Thankfully, it won’t happen in our time so we’ll still be able to enjoy our lives.

Back to my first topic.

Sometimes I wonder why people even care about some things.

I wonder why people struggle so hard to find meanings of every thing.

Why complicate the simple things in life?

Why not just accept objects for what they are instead of making overly profound idea of that object?

Personally, I think everyone would be a bit more happy if they stopped worrying so much.

Doesn’t everyone want to be happy?

I know I do.

Oh, a separate topic.

Why do people like to compare themselves to others so much?

Its not like doing so will make them any less better or worse than you.

You’ll just end up either feeling worse or jealous.

Well, that’s all I have to say for now.

Because with this, I’ve reached 250 words.

Then again, I seem like I’m slacking right now.

To make up for it, please enjoy this picture of a baby calico cat.

Who am I is a question that I’m positive many of you tend to ask yourselves when you get to certain point in life. I would be lying if I told you all, I know exactly who I am because I’m still growing and learning more about myself each and every day. Though I’m not perfectly sure who I am, however, aware of the exact qualities that I possess.

Some of my characteristics include being pro-active, strong, dedicated, and motivated. Sports are where all these qualities become highlighted through the actions I’ve taken in Indoor track and field. Now, before I started track and field I wouldn’t have described myself as outgoing or athletic compared to after becoming a member of the sport. As a matter of fact, the only reason I joined track and field is because I can’t hit, catch, or throw anything. But don’t underestimate me because I would dominate in running, swimming, or soccer. I was only bad at sport where you had to mostly use your hands. Indeed, I did make it to being one second away from qualifying for nationals that was a great improvement on my part, but I’ll get to that later.

Before, I fell in love with track and field I was very naïve when it came to the sport. I just joined the team knowing that I going to sprint. My coach (who I found out was retired ECW wrestler) made me run through the school’s basement (since we didn’t have our own track but my school was built circular so it was okay) only three times, then the stretching routine, followed my lifting a few weights, and then we’d go home. Then it got more difficult by progressing to eight times round the basement.

My first event was called the “Night of Distance” at the armory that started 7:00 am so the team had to meet on Jamaica Avenue, Queens, NY by 4:30 am to take the E train together. Being the only freshman to attend I decided to use that to my advantage of talking to the upper class men to get some advice and hear about their first track experiences. My coach wrote me up to run the 1000meter race. This was my first race and it was much longer than I had in mind. During the race, I kept a steady pace and sprinted my last round, coming in 4th place. That was pretty amazing and I was extremely proud of myself even though it wasn’t the top 3. It showed how strong I was, I kept running even when I felt like my throat was on fire and I was about to faint on the track. Not to mention my competitors were from Townsend Harris and Bayside High School who dominated long distance events. When it came to the 300meter races though I would always make sure I was in at least the top 3 but everyone knows it’s not about what you come in, it’s about the time you finish in.

I had later on advanced to becoming the Most Improved Player my sophomore year and a second away from nationals in the 300meter run my senior year. I wouldn’t have accomplished this if I weren’t pro-active, strong, dedicated, and motivated.