s.stuart1 – Freshman Seminar Fall 2017

Career Blog Post #3- Shenez Stuart

I went to a Resume workshop held by the Starr Career Development Center. At the workshop, we went through a powerpoint presentation of a few Resume basics and formating principles. The presentation encompassed of sample resume templates and examples of how to keep descriptive statements short. One of the detail from the presentation I remembered was that when you list your experience, you must demonstrate the job you executed and the purpose of your actions. The presentation highlighted that it was important to provide such details in concise statements. The presenter was very informative and assisted in short exercises on how to construct parts of the resume. At the end of the workshop, we were given a writing guide for resumes and cover letters.

Through this experience, I was able to learn methods to make my resume more professional and suitable for a job application. The reason I attended this workshop so early on was because I was considering applying for a Spring Internship. I thought that the workshop would be helpful in teaching me how to construct a well written resume so I would be confident with submitting my application. By attending the workshop, I saw how I could tighten up my current resume and alter it to reflect my transition into college. The writing guide that we were given at the end was also very helpful. It introduced me to things like the post-interview thank you letter and email, which I didn’t know were things that were done. The information provided by both the workshop and the writing guide definitely cleared up some grey areas and questions I had about some of the materials needed in the application process. I look forward to participating in other workshops and activities that the center holds in the future. I plan on taking advantage of their Mock Interview workshops as well.

Academic Blog 2- Shenez Stuart

I decided to take a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), George Heye Center. The exhibition I visited was the Infinity of Nations which was located on the same floor as the entrance. As I entered the museum the first thing I noticed was the Rotunda display which was a circular area which depicted a meeting area with benches and lighting posts. To the right of this display was a door leading to the exhibition. The Infinity of Nations exhibition featured artworks and cultural attire from numerous Native American cultures. Each glass case showcased several cultural items corresponding to 10 geographic region where they were found. The artifacts and utensils held in the galleries featured naturalistic images such as animals. Many of the cultural clothing, mostly war attire, were donated to the museum and were once owned by native chiefs. My favorite display was of the artworks of the Shipio and Conibo people originating in the Amazon rainforest. I admired the artworks simplicity and sleekness of the designs. All the artworks displayed in this exhibition were very beautiful and powerful in the way they encompassed the individuality of each Native People’s culture.

Amidst the recent arguments over the celebration of Columbus Day, I felt the urge to learn about the history and cultures of the indigenous people that inhabited the lands of the Americas. The cultures of the indigenous people of this land are often underappreciated and overlooked. While walking through the exhibition, it was amazing to see the colors of the cultures I vaguely learned about in my early school years come to life. From my observations of the artworks, I felt the pride in the cultures of the native peoples. This experience made me more knowledgeable about the identity of the various groups of indigenous people.

Student Life Blog Post #1- Shenez Stuart

Immediately after Art History, my friends and I rushed to the lobby on the second floor of the VC where an event celebrating Latinx Heritage would be held. When we arrived we saw lots of people anxiously waiting for the event as well. As the student organizations finalized their preparations, the DJ started the party with a blast of Spanish music. Soon the whole lobby came to life and I looked around in a daze, confused on what I should do first. I gravitated to a table for the student organization that displayed some cultural foods. I enjoyed a plate of fried plantains, chicken, beef, and pork. After that, I tried some homemade queso empanadas and a milk drink. I forgot the name of the drink but the taste was something I could not forget. It was a milk drink infused with the slight taste of oranges. It was interesting to try a unique twist on something as mundane as a glass of milk.

The environment of the Latinx Heritage Month event was very welcoming and fun. Everyone enjoyed a game that was similar to musical chairs. When the music stopped, the players hurried to find a partner and whoever was left without a partner was out of the game. When the game ended, the lobby became a dance floor with the rhythm of Spanish music playing in the background. The laughing and the dancing lightened the mood. It was great to see everyone taking a break from their routine academic schedules to celebrate a culture that may not have been their own. I saw how the Baruch student community came together to enjoy the music and the culture. Attending this event made me think about joining the Caribbean Student Association because I would like to take part in an activity that would also showcase my culture to this school. I would love to experience more heritage events at Baruch in the future and learn about the cultures of the students that are part of this college.