Matthew Chian

My participation in the community service project has helped me explore more opportunities at Baruch. So far, I applied to join Team Baruch. But I won’t know if I’m a member for at least a few more days. I really hope that I am accepted though because I want to give back to the school. The community service project has shown me the strong tradition of “giving back” here at Baruch. Being a member of Team Baruch would allow me to give back and interact with incoming students to share my experiences with them and hopefully help them embrace Baruch as I have. The resources used for my team project has given me an edge in my other courses by showing me that initiative must be taken in order to be successful. People who sit around and wait for things to come to them aren’t the ones who become successful later in life. I learned that I must take action all the time – either in actively searching for opportunities or actively helping the surrounding community. Community service has expanded its meaning to me. I used to view community service as something that was important and made you feel good about yourself because you were helping others. But I realize that community service is essential in advancing a community and allowing it to thrive. I realized the importance of helping those in need because a society can’t move forward if there are people who lack basic needs.

In the next 3 years, I hope to have some kind of internship or a job. I hope to have most of my credits completed. But besides that, I hope that I am able to look back and say to myself that I made the most of the opportunities I was given. I want to be involved at school in some way, either as a member of a club or as a fan of a sport. And I also hope that I can maintain the friendships that I have formed in the one short semester that I have been at Baruch. I was hesitant to come to Baruch because it was a city college. But I realized that college isn’t about the campus or how much you pay. It’s about the people you meet along the way. And I’ve met some great people already that have really made my experience at Baruch special. And I hope that I can look back in 3 years and say to myself that I’ve strengthened these friendships and that these friendships will last me the rest of my life.

As a Baruch Scholar, I believe my role is to not only be a successful student, but it is also to be an exemplary individual. Not only am I a student at Baruch, but I am also a representative of Baruch. And I believe my actions should reflect positively on Baruch as well as the Honors Program. I also believe my role is to give back to the community in some way. I truly believe that a successful community’s foundation is built on those who are willing to spend their own personal time helping those in need. If everyone in our community were to be selfish, we would not be the great city we are today.

This is all related to the culture of service the Honors program promotes because I believe the Honors program is dedicated not only to giving us a great education, but also to positively impacting the surrounding community. Community service does not just impact those that it intends to help; community service also impacts those who partake in it. As a scholar, I embrace the opportunity to serve my community, but not just to “finish the hours that I am required to do.” I hope to gain experiences that will enhance my view of an already amazing city as well as positively impact those who are less fortunate. Being a scholar, I hope to not only maintain the sterling reputation of the Honors program. I also want to improve that reputation. I know that the Honors program already has a rather prestigious reputation, but if I can somehow build upon this more, I think I will have been successful in not only fulfilling my community service project, but also fulfilling my own goals.

Before high school, I was a different person. I lacked confidence; I feared public speaking. Today, I can say that I am confident, hard-working and well-spoken. And this is in large part because of my four years of running track in high school. Track helped me build up my mental toughness, showing me hard work pays off and that there are no shortcuts to success. I refuse to give up. There are sometimes track workouts that may seem really hard. But as in life, these “workouts” are simply obstacles that can be overcome with persistence and dedication. Conquering these “workouts” allowed me to build my confidence; I learned that I can succeed in anything I do if I set my mind to it. Being apart of Student Government in high school allowed me to become more well-spoken. As secretary, I would record the notes at meetings, but I was not afraid to voice my own opinion either. I learned that it’s better to say what’s on your mind and let others know what you think so that they can consider an angle that they might not have seen themselves. I also spoke in front of large groups when I was apart of Student Government. This helped me to continue to improve my public speaking skills. Now, I embrace the opportunity to speak in front of a group, rather than dread it.

As a college student, I expect to make new friends that will last me a lifetime. At the moment, I want to major in business. But I hope that I can learn more about business so I know that this is the right major for me. I want to learn as much as I can and know that I love whatever field I decide to go into. For my first semester, I’m hoping to work hard and build up my GPA. I’m also hoping to get involved in some way – whether through a club or an organization.