Last Tuesday I went to a workshop led by Ricki W(idk) that discussed cover letters. A cover letter is typically a page long document that many jobs ask for along with your resume. It is a more personal look into who you are as a potential employee; answering a large variety of questions. One main thing that is important to keep in mind is that it should be customized to every single job. You should include why you would be an asset to the company you are applying to and should highlight how your past experience applies to the job you want. This is really important because it goes the extra mile into explaining why YOU should get the job over anyone else. You should include any special talents (being fluent in another language or being certified for any computer programs) that you may have.

Cover letters should be written formally, they should be personable, and should always include more than one form of contact information. Cover letters should not exactly be creative using different fonts/colors unless you are applying for an artistic job. Proofreading is an essential part of finalizing and ensuring that you are confident in your application. In fact, it would be a smart idea to ask others to read through it and give you their first impressions and feedback. It’s important to keep in mind that a potential employer is going to quickly scan over this piece so you need to make sure that your talents stand out.

Although I have previously learned about cover letters, I found this workshop really helpful in terms of reviewing and highlighting what exactly should and should not be included in a cover letter.

This past Thursday, my friend asked me to come check out her Hindu Student Association club and I realized I could kill 2 birds with one stone and write about it for my blog post! When I walked up to the 2nd floor of the vertical campus, I was greeted by many smiling faces. I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming and friendly everyone was seeing as to how I stood out in a pretty obvious way. The girls at the stand automatically offered me mango juice (which is one of my favorite things ever) and asked if I wanted to participate in any of the activities they had. I took some time out of my busy and overwhelming day and painted on  a small canvas. I found that this activity helped me clear my mind and calm me down. After I left, I felt reenergized and ready for my next class.

Once I read the posters that they had, I found that they are accepting of every background and simply want to teach others about their culture. Their mission is to appreciate the coexistence of all different kinds of faiths. I was so happy to see this because there has been so much hate in our world recently that it is refreshing to be around an environment that is so open and accepting of others. Once I started to think about it, I realized that this welcoming approach is the best way to share your ideas with the rest of the world. If a person comes out bashing others, they will never listen to what they have to say. I am very appreciative that Baruch has all of these opportunities to help us expand our horizons and further improve our lives aside from academics.

Please excuse this photo bc I really don’t know how to picture ::)))))

This past weekend my friend and I decided to go to the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) which is located in Midtown, Manhattan. Since I was little, I have enjoyed going to museums because they are such an interesting way of learning about cultures, time periods, and ideas that circulate around us. I feel as if museums are a testament to an area’s values and interests. This past summer, I have visited museums in Paris and Colombia, and this was my first visit to a museum back in the States. I found that there were a lot more people in the MoMA than in the Museo Botero in Bogota, but it was comparable to The Louvre.  I usually go to The Met or The Natural History Museum when I am in Manhattan, so the MoMA was a nice change that exposed me to something different!

When we first got to the museum, we decided to go to the top floor and work our way down. We saw the original The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh which was a lot larger than I imagined. It was so breathtaking to see the texture hidden in the painting that can’t really be seen in a picture or a postcard of it. We also saw Reflections of Clouds by Claude Monet. This piece is amazing to look at because of the colors and the style of painting used. Aside from all of the paintings that are in the MoMA, there are a few fun and quirky exhibits that make you wonder if they are simply random or well thought out pieces of work. For example, there is a room with a rectangular pool of mud that bubbles up and makes an interesting noise. Being around the exhibit itself was very calming because of the sounds but also a bit unnerving because of what it was coming from.

Overall, I had a great experience at The Museum of Modern Art and I would recommend it to everyone!