Matthew Hargraves

Having learned the value of community service and the importance of being involved in the community, whether it be Baruch or Staten Island or New York, I recognize that my next steps are extremely important. My involvement in the Unity Games for many years has started this process, but I plan to incorporate my assistance into as many programs as I can manage, whether they benefit me or another person that I may not even know. My involvement in the Freshman Seminar class has taught me the importance of teamwork and getting things done in a timely manner, despite the irony of the time of this post as I posted the wrong assignment previously. I have learned the repercussions of actions and the road to success. How I will utilize what I have learned will make me, well, me.

I plan on joining either BAP (Beta alpha psi) or PES (Phi Eta Sigma) to attain an honor roll status in a renowned organization. This will not only increase my chances at a future of successful business partners and friends, but open me up to a world of opportunities. Noting that I want to major in accounting, BAP has been the favored choice. As for non-profits, I am looking to join Team Baruch and/or Baruch Ambassadors. I’ve been inspired not only by Sam Shivraj, but also by Juan, a fellow classmate that was my tour guide when I was planning to come to this school. The program seems to be right up my alley, allowing myself to be a part of the Baruch community and give back to the school that has, after only one semester, instilled a sense of purpose in me.

These next three years at Baruch are the years that I will cherish and remember. They may fly by, or they may seem slow and endless. All I know is that I will make the most of them. I MUST make the most of them.

To understand what it means to serve my community, I first had to understand what was meant by “community.” The word community can have very different meanings, referring to a small group of people such as a class or a larger group of people such as a city like Staten Island after Hurricane Sandy.

Everybody has the option to help their community, but it’s those who actually go out that are noted. To serve your community, it can be as simple as helping an older woman cross the street, or as large as going house to house with the hurricane relief workers. There is a vast number of ways to serve your community, but the meaning gets misconstrued.

As a Baruch Scholar, we have all been given the great opportunity to help give back to our community through the community service project. Though entrance to the Baruch Scholars program is attained through grades and we must maintain a certain GPA, it is important to understand the bigger picture. We have been given a free ride to an amazing school, whereas some people are struggling to even live. The times we would have to spend working to make the the money for this college should go towards helping our community. It’s the least that can be done.