On Tuesday, September 26th, I went to an athletic event at Baruch’s ARC Arena with a friend. We watched a women’s volleyball game between Baruch’s own Bearcats and the Bulldogs from Brooklyn College. Although I’ve never been much of an athlete or fan of sports, I chose to watch a volleyball game because I’ve always been intrigued by the game’s mechanics. I feel like volleyball requires a lot of precision and coordination from its players, which often makes for fair games and interesting plays. During the game, I saw many spikes, which have proved to be my favorite type of attack because they’re not only aggressive, but also very calculated in most of the situations they’re used in.
My overall impression of the event is that sports like volleyball take more dedication and effort from its participants than I considered prior to this game. I found a new respect for student athletes after realizing their dedication to their sport of choice. Although faced with a loss at the end, the women’s volleyball team includes many talented players who make their determination and passion apparent when they step on the court to play. The same can be said about the Bulldogs, who played with their full potential and still maintained a level of respect. In fact, the general atmosphere in the gymnasium was both respectful and competitive. However, I was most inspired by the players’ abilities to balance their academic lives with their dedication to volleyball.
I never really understood the excessive popularity surrounding sporting events like the World Cup or the Super Bowl. However, after speaking with other onlookers I came to the conclusion that a sport can be enjoyed even if one doesn’t play it. I plan to get involved by attending more sporting events to support Baruch teams.
The United Chinese Language Association is one of the many clubs offered here at Baruch College. I was first intrigued by this club when I heard the abbreviation of the club being shouted out during the Club Carnival on Convocation Day; UCLA. I was confused on why UCLA was at Baruch College when representatives of the club approached me and explained what the club actually stood for. The representatives were very nice and welcoming so I thought why not and decided to go to their general club interest meeting (also because their flyers were really pretty).
As Thursday’s club hours approached, I kept searching for something that would truly be of interest to me. With Baruch’s pause on Greek life, I looked for a club that would offer some sort of excitement. Late Wednesday night, I saw a post for the Absolute Adrenaline club in the Baruch 2021 Facebook group, and decided that this might be worth my time. I scrolled through their Facebook page, and saw countless photos of students going rock climbing, paintballing, snowboarding, and more. I knew that I had to go check out this club and see what they were all about.
UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund is a program which defends the rights of children across the nation. UNICEF works hard to preserve the right to education for many children while also providing clean water, sanitation, and nutrition. This week I attended the UNICEF @ Baruch to learn more about this movement.Through the meeting I learned how Baruch College gives back to the community. Out of all the events, the Halloween Bash stood out to me where as college students, we can raise money for children. Not only the club members can raise money but the whole college can. More events such as the Snowflake Ball, International Food Fair, and Not Alternative Facts is the perfect way to raise awareness and implement change for the betterment of all children. The main goal is to help all children to realize that they can reach their full potential.
One of the first organizations I checked out during club hours was Alpha Kappa Psi (AKPsi). In short, they are a professional business fraternity that focuses on brotherhood, professionalism, and philanthropy. The past week was the beginning of their first few rush events, where people can get to know what AKPsi is and network with both fellow rushes and the brothers. One of the events named “Spread the Love” was a philanthropy event in which we gave back to the community. We prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to give to those in need. Personally, I believe the act of giving back is definitely something we should prioritize. There are many unfortunate people out there that can benefit from our acts in any shape or form. Something as simple as taking a sandwich and spreading peanut butter and jelly on it can really go a long way. I got the chance to talk to the brothers and learned more about AKPsi. Other than the brothers, there were also a large amount of rushes that came out to this event. I was able to meet a great deal of individuals who were in a similar situation as me, which was great, especially at a commute school like Baruch. Moreover, I was able to get insights towards my major, accounting. As a freshman, I do not exactly know what path I will take eventually and how exactly things would turn out, but it is all a learning experience. Maybe I will come to realize that accounting is the major for me, or it is not. It is different for everyone, so it is not until I really take a class or two to really find out for myself. Overall, I enjoyed the event and look forward to the many more that follow.