Author: s.rahman10

Didn’t get to take a picture at Baruch Voices, but Marwa knows I was there.  I didn’t go to the event expecting much, rather just to support my friend Kenny (guy in the picture)  who got chosen from my block. As my friends and I sat down in the crowded multipurpose room, we all decided that we would stay until Kenny gave his performance and then leave. However, once the first person came and began reciting their poem, my face was lit up with awe after each rhythmic verse. As each individual came to stage, one after the other, I realized how idiotic my initial reaction was. The personal recollections and poetry recited honestly blew my expectations. Kenny also dramatically improved delivering his piece at the event in comparison to in front of our class at FRO. All in all attending Baruch Voices  was an amazing experience. It gave us all a chance to share and listen to the moving and heart-warming stories told by our very own. Unlike my initial surmise, I am now highly excited to come back and maybe even help organize one in my coming years at Baruch.

Though I didn’t get to take a picture at the event itself, I learned and attained essential information that helped me understand Team Baruch and what it has to offer. My friends all decided to attend Team Baruch’s information session, while I wasn’t entirely sure whether I was interested or not, or even what Team Baruch had to offer in the first place. Letting my curiousity get the best of me, I arrived to the session ready for disappointment and regret. But evidently as the session continued, I became more and more enlightened. The students that coordinated the event gave an impression of confidence and maturity, unlike other meetings I’ve attended. They explained how generous Team Baruch has been to them and how gracious they were to be a part of it. The students also gave an impression that rather than working or doing a chore, they were making the most of their time by helping others. One mentor spoke about his time teaching a FRO class and the relationship he built with a former member of the military. He shared the troubles his pupil went through and all the efforts he made to help him through it. The mentor then concluded by talking about being in the his life past the time he spent in his FRO class and how proud he was of him when he found out the job opportunity the he recieved as a result of the mentors efforts of helping him. This reccollection was the determining factor that made me want to be in the Team Baruch atmosphere. Leaving that session I made a decision in trying to join this group and helping others just as much as the peer mentors do for us freshman everyday.

 

A group of freshman, confused and excited to finally attend our first GIM Meeting. A last minute decision led us to test the waters of fraternity “Beta Alpha Psi”. Thoughts of huge frat parties and crazy intiation stories  flooded my mind, but as soon as I stepped into the room those thoughts quickly diminished. The first thing I noticed was the professional setting the society provided. The main speakers wearing full suits, each gave the audience the impression of a polished, proficient work ethic. As the meeting continued to progress, the more astonished I got by the white-collar atmosphere this “frat” bestowed.  If I learned one thing from this General Interest Meeting, it’s that BAP is a model to all young adults looking to solidify a legacy in Baruch. Successful individuals have a template to achieve their precarious goals, and a group of motivational people to support them through the entire experience. BAP takes you in and branches you out into a family that humbly calls you a brother/sister, preparing you to be the best version of yourself. I may not be a part of the huge diverse BAP family this year, but this one GIM completely changed my biased understanding of fraternities, influenced me to explore my options, and ultimately helped me learn to strive to be only the best version of me.