Tag: Student Life

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.

On August 31, 2017 I attended the first General Interest Meetings for United Chinese Language Association. It seemed to be a start of college life. I met some interesting people part of the committee board and executive board. When I approached the meeting, the hallway was packed with so much people, and I thought how are we going to fit in the room? As I got in the room it was so full, some people were waiting outside. It was not exciting to realize that I had to stand because there were no more seats. However, the vibe in there felt like unity. Most of the members were lively, outgoing, and inviting. I had a great time, we played games for the first 1 hour or so and then we got free food! As I was lining up for food, I met this girl named Qi Qi, and she told me if I’m planning to major in accounting, I should have a open selection of majors because it’s very hard to maintain a A in accounting. I realized that I have to try really hard to succeed because the people at Baruch seems pretty competitive. The first meeting felt like a success and I learned so much about them so I decided to go again.

On September 7, I went to their second General Interest Meeting. I got to know more about the events that they’re going to hold. Also I met more people, which is great for networking! We played Google feud and pictionary which was better than the first event. This event was better than the first because there was less people and I got a seat. But there were still some people sitting on the floor. However, a not so cool thing is how there were also a lot less food. They mentioned about an event they’re going to have on September 12th which is a Chinese Learning Program and they’re going to be making lanterns while having food. This event sparked my interest, however, I have first year seminar class so I can’t attend, sadly. One big event which is coming up is the Moon Festival and then the Lunar New Year show. I really like how they embrace the Chinese culture because growing up I liked being an Asian american. I’m curious as to how the Lunar new year show will be like and very excited for all the upcoming events in this club like the socials.

For this semester, I plan on joining as much events as possible and hopefully one year I can apply for an executive or committee position. Being a leader in the club will look better on my resume, as I was told. I hope I can learn more how to prepare for real life situations from the mentorship program that they have. Possibly I can find an accounting internship from networks in this club. It didn’t feel like a waste of time to attend the meetings, well for me at least. Other people just left the meetings in the middle of the session. Is that rude or is it normal? Well, overall I had a great time so far at this club. Hope to gain more experiences with the whole UCLA club.