Throughout middle and high school I was a part of many different clubs, organizations and activities; some of which included the student government, volunteering at my local church, and refereeing for my soccer club. Although all of these clubs were instrumental in developing my academic and social foundation, none of them were culture based. Now that I’m in college I thought I’d give one a look. Since I am Ecuadorian, I figured that the Ecuadorian club seemed the most fitting. As I stepped into the room, I was warmly greeted by a welcoming committee of fellow Ecuadorians. This immediately gave me a homely feeling that intrigued me further. Some of the members of the club were very surprised to learn that I am actually Ecuadorian because I don’t look like a typical Ecuadorian. After spending just a few minutes in the room, I realized that this was a community I would like to be apart of. I have always dreamed of visiting Ecuador but have never had the chance to go there. I’m not sure if travelling with the club would be a possibility, but if so, I would definitely be interested in accompanying them. Being in a room full of people who have the same heritage as I do gave me a sense of belonging to my roots which is hard to get when you have never visited the country. I am extremely excited to become more involved on Baruch’s campus and I feel that the Ecuadorian club will provide me with a great opportunity to do just that. I haven’t actually joined the club officially yet, but it is something that I am looking forward to doing in the near future. In addition to the club, I attended a study abroad fair where I learned about the various opportunities that Baruch offers for our students to explore new areas around the globe.