Freshman Seminar Fall 17 BRB

Academic-Baruch Voices

On November 2 I spoke at baruch voices. For me this was a slightly overwhelming task since I have never been good at public speaking. It is usually extremely intimidating to go up knowing so many people are listening to everything you say but the atmosphere on thursday was so different than anything I have experienced before. Everyone was so calm and welcoming and seemed genuinely interested to hear what everyone had to say. One by one people took the stage and once they started talking you could see calm return to their face and authority return to their voice, they owned that story and they knew it was their job to tell it right. The stories were as different as the people telling them, they were sad, inspiring, funny, unexpected. I think this experience was also helpful because everyone makes snap judgements without trying but hearing these stories not even a minute after seeing these people for the first time really goes to show these judgements don’t mean anything and not to hold onto them. This was a wonderful experience and I hope it continues to grow and more people get to experience what I did.

-Abigail Sullivan

Student Life-Club Fair

On thursday September 28 I attended the club fair with Nancy, Charisse, and Sudipa. I went mostly to look for the accounting society, a club I hadn’t seen at the convocation day carnival. To me it was important to meet with one of their members. By talking with two of the members I decided this was a club I was interested in working toward full membership in. They got industry advice and experience through meeting with the professionals the club brought in. The club also had a focus on helping their community, in order to become a full member in the club you had to attend two club sponsored community service events. Finding this club wasn’t easy though. Once I walked in the gym I was lost in a sea of school spirit and club pride. Every club would hand you a flier or pull you aside to explain their club and how it would benefit. This was definitely a fun way to spend my break between classes. I was introduced to so many clubs I wouldn’t have heard of otherwise while in a better place to judge what I wanted out of a club than at the convocation carnival.

-Abigail Sullivan