This past Thursday, I went to the Finance and Economic Society General Interest Meeting. I plan to major in Finance, so joining a club centered around it seemed interesting. The first thing I noticed immediately upon entering the room was how packed it was. I realized that many Baruch students are as motivated and ambitious as I am and also aim to use FES as a resource to help them achieve their goals. The meeting was very interesting, and offered an overview of what the club does, what programs it offers, and what is expected of members. Right away, it was noted that in order to be a part of FES, you need to be prepared to sacrifice and commit a lot of your time. If you are accepted into one of the programs FES offers, you need to stay on top of your weekly assignments and responsibilities. Although the thought of extra assignments may deter some from joining the club, the benefits FES offers are numerous and greatly outweigh the light burden. FES offers networking and job opportunities to its members, often getting direct requests from employers for students involved in the club. In the business world, individuals who are set upon achieving great things are highly sought after, and demonstrating those qualities in yourself by joining and being an active member of FES can propel one towards amazing opportunities. Another thing which pleased me about the club was how friendly and easy to talk to everyone was. Compared to my academic courses, FES felt like a whole different world. Everyone was eager to meet others, and icebreakers weren’t necessary as people introduced themselves, and quickly got to know one another. Personally, I think this is because every Finance major cares about money and such early networking opportunities may prove fruitful in the future. However, that doesn’t take away from the fact that friends, or at least acquaintances are easy to make, allowing one to feel more welcome at Baruch, and ease into the college lifestyle. Being one of the larger clubs on campus, it surprised me how close all of the members were, and how they maintained contact, even outside of Baruch. Several of the board members still keep in touch with former FES members who graduated years ago, which just goes to show that the benefits the club offers do not expire once you end your college experience. Overall, I enjoyed visiting FES and plan to continue going to their meetings, as they are definitely helpful to everyone, not just Finance or Economics majors. I would go so far as to say that FES is one of the most valuable clubs on campus in regards to engagement v.s. reward, and I would recommend everyone check it out. Although I am unsure of whether I will be able to find the time this semester to join any of the programs FES offers, due to school, work, and social commitments, I will certainly make it a priority next year.
