Freshman Seminar – Spring 2015, DTD

I didn’t except that time in Baruch would go by so fast. There is a lot of things that I haven’t learn yet and I want to know it all. There are many times the professors open my mind and made me said wow. I am glad to be in college and learning new things. My habit of being lazy and irresponsible is hurting my grades and I would change for sure. I need to take some speech classes to boost up my courage to speak more. I believe that I have a lot of weakness and Baruch college would help me overcome them. The more knowledge I have the more I know how the world works.

I was born and raised in New York City but I don’t really feel fully American. The people that I hang out with are all from China and most of people in my neighborhood are all Asian. My family is really protective that I never really go in the city and travel much outside of the lower east side. At home my parents wanted me to speak Fuzhou-ese and send me to mandarin classes. Language became really hard for me that I gave up and didn’t care much about it. I started to draw and play a lot of sports. Elementary school I didn’t really fit in with the other type of Chinese people (Cantonese) and it was probably because I was fuzhou-ese. In middle school I finally met some friends that would hang out with me and never forget about me. Even in college they are my bros.

Here we go. As you noticed that is the Baruch Basket Ball court.

I have chosen this picture to represent my first semester at Baruch because this is where I spent most of my time after the classrooms of course.

If you could that I posted this image because I love Basket Ball, NO you are not wrong. However that is not the only reason.

Sport is an easy way to make friends. Without talking, without knowing each other, you play together. It is magic, and this is the reason why most of the people that I know here at Baruch are from this court.

I have experienced all kind of things there: injury, fight, pain, happiness, sadness, encouragement,  mockery, shame, fame, deception and pride. And something tells me that this is only the beginning.

Baruch is tough and I barely have time to play Basket Ball but I still enjoy the campus.

I got some friends too from my classes. There are awesome. Maybe it will get better if we play Basket Ball together!

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It’s always interesting to see what you say about yourself. Arrogant, stupid, mean, fat, unorganized, or critical? Any of those sound familiar? Often times, we overlook so many of the amazing qualities we possess and look at every flaw that we can possibly imagine, and yet when we ask others about us, more often than expected, peoples say we are kind, considerate, friendly, approachable, understanding, even smart. So why is it that we identify ourselves with so many negative qualities?

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people will not feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give others permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson.

How do I view myself and why does this picture depict me? The reason this photo represents me is because I am with others and not holding back who I am or what I can do. I am living my life to the fullest I can in this moment and giving permission for others to do so as well. People often define themselves based on what they have or what they do, but those things are always changing. You may job for one day and call yourself a banker, but the next lose that job. Would you still call yourself a banker? Who you are comes from the people you surround yourself with and what you emulate. Who I am? Just ask the people around me.

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When I started college three months ago I was nervous about almost everything related to it. I felt very insecure about expressing my opinions probably because English is not my first language and I was always afraid about making any mistakes during the time I was speaking. However, being in contact with students and professors and also reading different materials have helped me a lot on making progress. Now I feel way more confident when communicating with someone and when expressing my thoughts on various essays and assignments.

I think I have learned many things during my experience at Baruch. I have become more passionate about reading topics that I didn’t know about their existence and also about things which I had no previous interest. During this three months experience at Baruch, I have eventually learned how to develop a critical way of thinking and not just be a passive reader or listener.

Baruch has taught me that time is precious and you have to take advantage of every moment of it. I am learning how to be faster during my everyday activities and how to use my time with efficiency. Most importantly Baruch is teaching me how to have self-discipline and be careful when organizing and planning my time.

I really like Baruch. It has a very friendly and welcoming environment. It gives you a lot of opportunities and space to express yourself and I will do my best to enjoy every moment that I will be spending here.

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What has Baruch been like for me? Baruch College offers new opportunities for students to excel in their studies and become professionally recognized in a specified career just like any other college. This, of course, comes with a wide variety of experiences and challenges from the new classroom setting to the upbeat and overly loud social events, both of these challenge us in our own way at any college one could or would attend, but what makes my experience at Baruch unique to me. Baruch, unlike many other schools, offers a huge diversity of cultures. From the Hispanic bankers club, the Korean Culture club, the Japanese anime club, to the Black American Society club, all of these offer a variety of social groups that almost anyone can fit in. One is never alone when attending Baruch. Though sometimes I feel, friends often divide amongst people of their own race and culture and create very tight cliques; overall I believe diversity is well respected around campus. This is something that has become very prevalent in my experience in Baruch College thus far.

Initially, my main reason for attending this school had been because of my inability to afford many of the so called, “better,” colleges I could have attended. I should have done this or taken that class came up a few times in my head, but much of that was washed away during my gap years prior to my start at Baruch. Two years of traveling all across the world helped me become tolerant, patient, and kind. Of course, college still poses a challenge and my lack of unacceptance and apathy affected my studies greatly during the first semester, but as I came to see how much this school had to offer me personally, I came to appreciate more of what Baruch is and even look to what it could be.                 I have struggled with acceptance a lot of my life being somewhat different from many of those around me. Much of my high school experience consisted of bullying and unfair treatment because of distinct difference. There were already very few minorities in my school, being a predominantly composed of wealthy white boys, but being both Hispanic and Asian, neither social structure really accepted me. Much of my high school experience led to many stupid decisions, but I come out stronger from them and that much the wiser. Often times, people say God put us here for a specific purpose, but I say God also puts us in place that can give us purpose. Baruch offers such a wide variety of cultures, making me feel very comfortable around so many different kinds of students. In the end, color is a simply a color and does not really distinguish us in any other way. We all grew up in this world with a wide wealth of experiences and Baruch College is a place in which I am offered the opportunity to share my experiences and create new ones with those around me. This picture represents more than just a few friends up to some late nigh shenanigans; it represents new experiences, new people, and a new me.C:\Users\Baruch_Student\Desktop\11164811_10153061450647745_6090355789868850354_n.jpg

After one year of doing nothing meaningful, I choose to go to school again.  During three months in Baruch, i made a lot friends, which is really good for me, because i am such a talkative person, not in class, LOL, but in daily life.  Other than this, all i remember is the Papers, it almost get my head exploded, but i got over with it.

still one more month to go, then i can take a long break, relax all day all night. nothing more today, see you guys next semester.

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This year is a special year to me, after having tests and having moved to America for six months, I started a new life, new experience in college. This photo was the first day I went to Baruch, I remember at that day I felt so nervous and did’t know everything about college, the only thing I know was I thought Baruch is a beautiful college so I took this photo. After four months study in Baruch, my life become so busy due to the numerous papers and exams, however, I am happy everyday because I learn many new things from professors and have a lot of fun time with my friends. Today when I look at this photo again, I never feel college is like a stress to me, instead, I like to go to school everyday. Although there will be lots of difficulties for me because of I am an international student, I still believe that I will have a great time during the four years in Baruch.

First Semester: My Life in the Making 

When I started my first semester here at Baruch, I felt as though my life was finally starting, much like when an artist gets his first inspiration for a piece. But as the weeks went buy, I realized that my painting was much like the first one. Splattered here and there, and very unorganized. I realized that juggling a full time job and going to school full time was more work than I thought and I was beginning to feel the side effects of the very little sleep I got at night.

Once I realized that  the way i was handling my time wasn’t going to work, I began rearranging my splattered paint, so that it would be able to benefit me and thus in the end create a work of art. I can honestly say that my work of art (life) is far from the second picture. However it is in the process of becoming something great. Baruch has definitely taught me to prepare for the expected and the unexpected, and that every bit of time is precious and costly.

College isn’t easy, and it’s a preparation for the life I have ahead of me. Therefore planning and organisation are two very important things that I have learned so far from my three months at Baruch and it is something that I will take with me throughout the rest of my studies and life.

Citation:

https://www.google.com/search?q=unorganised+chaos&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GEs2Vd_QMdCcygTl_IGwDA&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=splatter+painting

Thank you guys for a wonderful semester!!! Good luck!