Academic – Freshman Seminar Fall 17 DWA

On November 6th 2017 I finally attended a SACC appointment. I scheduled this appointment through the Baruch website which made it extremely easy to make an appointment. I simply signed in ,picked the class I needed help with which for this appointment was mth2003. When I arrived the lady at the front desk let me know that I was matched with Eric G. for the next hour. I walked into the tutor area introduced myself and the grind began. Eric went over the topics of derivatives and their applications with myself and 2 other students.

I believe that my attending this tutor session truly displays the growth that Baruch has forced me to undergo. In high school I was never the type of person to rely on the help of others and was always self dependent when it came to my studies. When I found a topic difficult I would refuse to ask others for help and instead simply worked at it on my own. With that being said I believe the fact that I was able to humble myself and seek out help displays tremendous growth.

Rude Awakening: SACC

So one of the many things we were told in our Orientation is that our math classes will probably make us cry. They blatantly tell us the struggles basically 60% of the whole school has gone through. I was one of those that swore that I would be ready, I had gone to the Summer Prep course so I should have an advantage. Oh was I so rudely awakened. The thing about math is that practice makes perfect and if you’re not putting in the hours, you most likely won’t get it. Being that I am also working while going to school, garnering enough energy to sit down and actually do math problems becomes an issue. So this is where it has lea me: SACC. Luckily the same teacher I had for my summer prep class was available and once again showed me the stupid mistakes I made and that I was really just over thinking. I had my second test of the semester and I just knew that I needed the extra step, if I had any chance of passing. Going to SACC allowed me to realize that its ok not to have everything together and sometimes you just need some extra help. I will definitely be making a few more stops here throughout my college career.

El Museo Del Barrio Exhibition

El Museo Del Barrio is a museum in East Harlem. This museum is famous for its ability to bring light, to the almost fading, history of Hispanic culture.

The day I went to the exhibition, I arrived with only minutes to its closing. Hurriedly I checked my bag in and ran to the entrance. The guards within reminded me once again that I only had 15 minutes to go, so I started my search. The search was to find the most relatable piece of art. I soon realized it wasn’t far from my grasp as I turned the corner.

A woman’s face was trapped in a box, while the rest of her (her unruly hair) was out side. Underneath the box was inscribed “Tu Afro No Cabe en la Foto,” which translates to “Your Afro Doesn’t Fit in the Photo.” I quickly recognized this piece to be symbolizing the “hair issue” within the Hispanic culture, where European features are praised for having, but Afro-American features are covered by the swipe of a flat iron. The Afro within this piece represents the resistance, straying away from what is “traditionally” viewed as beautiful and not conforming ones self into societal definition of appropriateness. Her Afro is breaking these boundaries and taking her whole persona.

I found this piece to be relatable because while going through my natural hair journey, I too received unwanted opinions of my new untamed hair. To my surprise someone even told me, “I don’t like your hair like this, you look black.” Despite all of that, I learned how to embrace my hair and myself.

You may be asking your self, “Okay… but how did this event assist you during your first semester at Baruch College?” Don’t worry I’m getting there.

This event assisted me during my first semester at Baruch College, by further showing me that as long as I can embrace myself, the opinions of others shouldn’t matter. Therefore I could be open to my school environment and be unafraid to break social barriers.