Author: j.rooplall

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved going to all the different museums in New York City. My mother would always take me almost every other month when she had a day off from work. I would hold her hands as we walked around the city and into various crowded art museums. I was always amazed at how small I felt compared to the size of the museum ceilings. On October 12th, I journeyed by myself (for the first time) to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to complete one of my Global History assignments. I was excited to immerse myself in all the museum had to offer. To no surprise, I had been there with my mother before, though I don’t remember much of it. All I can remember are the pretty windows we saw as we through a certain part of the museum..

This time, I walked through almost the entire museum. While in the Ancient Egypt section, my favorite section, there sat a turquoise-blue, decorative hippopotamus, popularly known as “William.” Apparently, it is the unofficial mascot of the MET. I learned numerous historical facts through this artistic display in the Egyptian section. Beneath the blue glaze on William’s outer body, there are outlines of river plants that were painted to symbolize the marshes in which the ancient Egyptian hippopotamus lived. The installation in which William is displayed is named “Conversation between Two Hippos,” which commemorates the 100th anniversary of William’s presence at the MET. I did further research and discovered that hippopotamus figurines were created and placed in tombs to give the deceased regenerative powers, in Egypt’s Middle Kingdom. Their surfaces were often painted with lotus flowers, which were part of the animal’s natural habitat and symbolized rebirth.

My visit to the MET was nostalgic, and the whole time I couldn’t help but think about my mother. A plethora of childhood memories came back that made me miss the time we spent together. Despite this, my trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was a very enlightening experience. The research I did on my own aided in my understanding of many art displays the museum had to offer. In turn, I learned a bunch of new concepts and facts that can be applicable to both my social and academic life. I’m glad I took the time out of my schedule to do something I didn’t know I need to do; I can thank my global history class for that.

On October 5th, 2017, I attended a T.E.A.M. Baruch orientation with my friend, Adina, during club hours. This event was an informative session that intended to increase students’ interest and encourage them to submit applications. There, I learned that T.E.A.M Baruch is a dynamic, exceptional program. The acronym, Team Baruch, stands for (T)ogether (E)veryone (A)chieves (M)ore.

The goal of T.E.A.M. Baruch is to train students to become on-campus AND off-campus leaders. Through this Baruch experience, students would learn how to take on and successfully maintain leadership roles in various communities. I was enlightened to see how many people in the room weretruly looking to make an impactful change in their own academic environment.

T.E.A.M. Baruch has peer mentorship positions as freshman seminar peer mentors, orientation leaders, peers advocating for wellness services, peers for careers, success network peer mentors and transfer seminar peer mentors. The Wellness Services department caught my attention. Peers who advocate for wellness services are trained to help and heal students who are dealing with any personal issues. In general, I see myself as a very nurturing person who enjoys healing people any way possible. I love helping people be healthy and happy, which is one of the reasons I am planning to apply for T.E.A.M Baruch. Many T.E.A.M. Baruch members were testifying to the program by sharing their own personal stories with the audience. I was touched when one of T.E.A.M. Baruch’s members expressed how much she enjoyed being part of the Wellness Services center. This young lady emphasized how essential her leadership role in this center has been to her Baruch experience. It has “positively altered” her outlook on the world and all of the people in it.

Everyone is dealing with their own personal problems, whether we like to acknowledge them or not. By joining T.E.A.M. Baruch, I would be able to foster my leadership skills and expand my interpersonal skills to better the lives of others everyday.  

When I stepped out of the elevator on the second floor, the Latinx Heritage Month opening ceremony was beginning. The DJ asked the crowd of enthusiastic students, “Where my Latinos at?!” I heard loud screams and roars filled with representation all across the lobby. Withinseconds, I started to hear music from a bunch of different Spanish artists, including Prince Royce and Bad Bunny. The crowd went wild. Students of various diversities, personalities and ethnicities were at the ceremony. They seemed to be very diverse and down to earth. Everyone was having a good time, and so was I.

I grabbed my Puerto Rican friend, Adina, by the hand and forced her to take pictures with me at the photo booth. Then, we went to explore the multiple booths around us, mainly for the purpose of finding food. For the first time ever, I tasted a traditional Hispanic drink known asmorir soñando, which is orange juice mixed with carnation milk. It created a smoothie-like texture and tasted delicious. Mamita’s Ices, which are my favorite, were being handed out. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get one, as they ran out of them. There were different types of tasty Spanish foods at each booth. I got to try cheese and beef empanadas, along with plantains, fried cheese and sausages.

Once Adina and I were finished stuffing our face with the appetizing finger foods available, I made her teach me how to dance salsa. At first she was quite shy, but the music got her out of her comfort zone and made her want to dance. Step, step, hip. Step, step, hip. I started to get the hang of it. Based on the array of flags hanging down from the rail of the third floor, Adina was teaching me the names of the Hispanic countries allthe flags belonged to. All in all, I enjoyed myself at the opened ceremony and a learned a handful of new things.