Freshman Seminar Fall 17 EWA

Metropolitan Museum of Art

So about a week ago, I accompanied my friend on a school trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Initially, it seemed like any other boring school trip But, the entire experience was an eye opener for me. The atmosphere in the museum was very unreal and it gave me a short break from all the midterms I had at the time. Moreover, it gave me a glimpse of all the available knowledge that are out there. I was originally planning to go there solely for the blog. However, at the end of the day I actually enjoyed the experience altogether. Surprisingly yet, I am planning another tour there soon! I highly recommend everyone to make a visit to the Metropolitan Museum if you haven’t been there before.

 

 

Brooklyn Museum

I had the chance to visit the Brooklyn Museum with my friend. I was pleasantly surprised by how interesting the museum was. I was able to utilize some of the knowledge I’ve gained thus far from my Art History class. I realized that many of the ideas we’ve learned pertain to art from all times. These ideas came to life in the museum. I found myself genuinely enjoying the couple of hours spent in the museum. I decided that even though it’s not so easy to muster up the energy to go on a trip to a museum, it’s an educationally enriching experience. I walked out of the museum knowing a lot more about different cultures and the overall history of different societies. I’m glad I visited this museum, and I can’t wait to see where I end up visiting next!

italian american museum

I had recently visited the Italian American Museum in Little Italy, in the city. The reason i chose to go to an Italian museum is because my father was born in Italy and i wanted to gain more knowledge about the history of Italy. I would then be able to come home and tell my dad about the museum and all the interesting exhibitions i viewed there. One of the purposes of the museum was to show the hardships in immigrating from Italy to America. The most meaningful exhibit to me was the passport and identification documents of people who were hopeful of moving to America. I was then grateful for knowing that my dad got to come to America without those hardships. After the museum I went to an Italian restaurant and ordered some delicious pizza. Remembering this day will always help bring me back to my heritage.

Metropolitan 101

Two weeks ago, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art and I’ll tell you what it was an experience I will never forget. Out of the monotonous time of my classes at Baruch, it was a clean and enjoyable time from the strenuous efforts of homework and midterms.

The historical artifacts from Ancient Greece, Ancient Egypt from thousands from years ago has shown the progression and the influence of cultural diffusion from the various historical sites.

Aside from the beautiful artwork and the multitude of people that are there to gaze at art, the subdued voices within the halls makes it even more enjoyable. The variety of art and unique personalities has made it an extremely fun and unique experience.

 

Metropolitan Museum of Art

A friend and I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I’ve been to this museum back in May with my class because we were working on creating geometric patterns. Because we were only looking at geometric patterns in islamic art, we didn’t get the chance to look at the sculptures and other artworks displayed here. I wasn’t interested in looking at anything either. Coming back here, i had a completely different experience. Since we were taught in art history class how to analyze artworks, i found myself doing exactly that and reading the description on the sides as well. There were arts from all around the world. We looked at nineteenth century European paintings and sculptures, Greek and Roman art, rooms from the Hôtel de Varengeville, Paris, arms and armor, nineteenth and twentieth century art from Robert Lehman collection, and arts of Africa. There was one sculpture that stood out to me because it was sculpted in a way that was different from other sculptures. It was just a sculpture of a man’s head and shown as if he was sleeping. I learned from the description that this was called the funerary portrait of Jacques Damala and that his wife, Sarah Bernhardt, carved this haunting memorial to him shortly after he died from a drug overdose. She envisioned him as if on his deathbed, his youthful features captured in sleep. Parts of the museum I was really interested in were the rooms from Hôtel de Varengeville. Although it was quite dark in there, all the rooms were beautifully furnished. Overall, I enjoyed my visit and I would definitely come back to explore the rest of this museum!

Sharsheret Board Meeting

Sharsheret is a local organization that helps women through breast cancer, while they do not help medically by supplying doctors they will help you find the right doctors for your specific type of cancer and link you with someone who had a similar prognosis as you to help you go through the process.  They also will help you and your family emotionally in every way they possibly can.  Me and a few of my friends have started a Sharsheret board of the downtown New York area and we are working closely with the heads of Sharsheret in advertising and spreading the message of Breast cancer and many other things.  We are working with them and they as well are showing us what it is like to run a company and a board, like the one I am a part of.

Metropolitan Museum

Last Friday, two of my friends and I took some time out of our “really busy lives” and went to the Metropolitan Museum. By far this was a really really fun experience because not only did I learn a ton, but it was also a therapeutical experience. It was in the museum that I knew my sole purpose was to enjoy my time there and blog about it. A lot less stressful than having 4 pagers due every other week! What started off as just another assignment for my freshman seminar class now became a pretty lit Friday. Truly a great way to end the week!

High School vs College

Now as we know as college freshman, that most likely college is better than high school in many ways. On the other hand their are ways that high school is better. The first comparison is Metrocards. In high school, I used to get a free Metrocards with 3 full fare rides. Now that I’m in college, I have to pay $121 for an unlimited Metrocard now. A second difference is that I’m getting paid to go to college because of the huge college refund we are getting from our FAFSA and TAP money. This is by far the best reason I love college. A third reason is making friends are easier. First semester of college, most likely you will see students from your orientation and you have a high probability you will see them in your next class. Unlike high school, you will probably see them in one class and won’t see them in the next one. In conclusion, college is way better than high school in my opinion.

TEAM Baruch

It isn’t a picture with me in it, but it would’ve been weird if I took a selfie with everyone in it

I attended the TEAM Baruch information session on 10/10 and it allowed me to see another side of Baruch. TEAM Baruch includes Freshman Seminar Peer Mentors, Orientation Leaders, PAWS, or Peers Advocating Wellness Center, Peers for Careers, Success Network Peer Mentors, and Transfer Seminar Peer Mentors. During the information meeting, there were members of TEAM Baruch that were currently involved or had been involved in all the mentioned sections of TEAM Baruch. They explained that there was a vigorous training process (that you have to pay for which is wack) and a retreat at the end of the training to build stronger ties with the other members, which they had said gave them a sense of family. This is all only if you make it through the application process, the interview, and the cut from 100 to around 55. Everyone speaking said how they didn’t plan on going through with the whole thing, but once they did, they didn’t regret it because they were so much more involved, and they just genuinely enjoyed it. This could assist me during my first seminar at Baruch not much I guess cause all the good outcomes come after the first semester, but it could give me a goal to pursue during this semester. Personally, I don’t know if I’m going to go through with it, mostly because it seems like you need a real sense of dedication for it, something I don’t think I have at the moment. If I’m going to join a club or group or anything, I’m going to want to put my one hundred percent into it, and if I can’t, it’ll be a waste of not only my time, but TEAM Baruch’s time. Overall though TEAM Baruch seems like a good opportunity for anyone who’s interested in becoming anything I mentioned, plus you get payed decently I hear.

School of Visual Arts Gallery

 

 

First walking into the gallery, I didn’t expect much for school artworks coming into the gallery. However once we walked into one of the main rooms with all of the main artworks, i began to see this consistency in the definition of destruction and catastrophe. I saw others passing by without taking a moment to consider the art, however I stood there and looked at the magnificent work of abstract art and photography which doesn’t make sense to most people. While looking at the art, I saw work that puts images that are absurd on their own, yet, when put together it creates a work of understood art. I saw the perspective behind the students who made such works, and understood that there is more to it than it seems. The gallery was small, but had a great impact on my friends and I as we saw meaningful art, that seems minute. Though, it may seem insignificant, we were able to concur that there is more to the art than it seems, and we learned not to judge art by its cover. Overall the experience was pleasant as it was a smaller gallery, and allowed us to take in each and every art work without being bored or in a rush of any sort. Art is a great way to express ideas, and is a fun way to enjoy your time while learning.