Mohini R. Pachai

As a Baruch scholar, I have the advantage of having a surplus amount of faculty and staff to advice and aid me throughout my time at Baruch. This came in handy with the Community Service Project. When I first heard about this project, I was absolutely lost in searching for a non-profit. Luckily, my advisor, Mr. Medina, and my peer mentor sparked a large amount of ideas to consider as well  as show us tools made for peering people to non-profits. With that, forming the group and finding a project satisfying enough for each group member was ten times easier than discovering the organizations ourselves. I don’t have a solid reason why I did not visit many other support centers here at Baruch but I have time within my 7 other future semesters to take a look.

One thing I got started on as soon as I could was joining the student club, Lexicon. I found that this yearbook club would offer me a way to stay social, try new creative things, and still have something serious to complete. I went out of my comfort zone and chose the photography section of this club, and I’m glad I did! In addition I also joined the Honors Council. With this, I’m helping to plan the Honors winter ball. Not only does these two clubs offer me a quick escape from educational stress, it also teaches me how to further manage my time which, honestly, is beneficial to every freshman. Sadly, neither of these clubs helped with my community service project, but hopefully these clubs are the stepping stones for something greater.

Baruch a great school with many support and stepping stones to help a student look well. Hopefully three years from now, I’ll be president of one of the clubs I’m in now or president of another club. I also hope I’m more involved with Baruch and ready to move on from this chapter!

We are all citizens. Whether it be to a college, state, country or planet. We are a protector and provider in that community in hopes of making the world a better place. Cliché, I know, but this basically provides the overview for what it is like to “serve our community.”  Although we are all morally obligated to preform these actions, many do not. On the contrast, many serve their community open heatedly without knowing of their good deeds. Within these two situation has the underlying question of what really is our role in aiding to the population around us. Grainier, what is our role in serving the one place we all belong to: Baruch?

Everyone has a different reason in society. Some are here to inform and to be stern while others are here to bring joy. Some are straight up rude, especially in New York, but others are sweet. Since I’m tend to take on a polite approach, many people like talking to me and opening up; I interpret that to be my role in Baruch. I take pride in that because people in today’s society cling to themselves, so breaking people out of their shells is an accomplishment. (while doing this to their comfort, of course.) Since we are freshmen, we don’t know the people around us. Offering that insight of care can make people feel more at home. It’s easy for someone to say, “Hey, don’t worry I’m not here to judge you,” but to follow up with the real meaning of those words is shaky. It’s a challenge and that’s why I love doing it.

By showing that one action of caring it promotes the culture of service the Honors Program inscribes. You start from a friend, then it can grow to a group, and then a larger community. It’s a simple process that’s done by baby steps.

 

I still can’t believe I’m a college student. Just the other day, I was in the 3^rd grade looking up to the 5^th graders thinking “Man, will I actually make it there?” Now, I’m old and forming my future goals that are intended to make me happy, and honestly, I wouldn’t have known how to do this if it wasn’t for the 4 years in high school.

I started Brooklyn Technical High school as a shy and awkward person (I’m still awkward; that hasn’t changed,) but with that, I was also a very insecure and too kind of a person. Since I went to a TINY catholic middle school, I didn’t know what to expect as I got dunked into one of the biggest high schools in America. The diversity there was the first thing I noticed and the diversity is what changed me.

As I went through sophomore year, a lot of conflicting situations happened to me that made me realize what I was weak in. I no longer became a push over, I became blunt, but I still had the soft heart that I try to maintain. Junior and senior year came and that was an esteem booster. I started taking care of myself, lost weight and, simply put, became a lot happier with life. Of course, the work load was ALOT, but I managed.

Now going into college with this open out look of life, I expected to meet new people from around the world, with different viewpoints in hopes of learning even more. Hopefully it’ll be fun when I get more involved.

As of right now, I just hope I can manage things. I want to be social but I also want that 4.0. So let’s see if I can attempt to balance that. I also hope to find a place where I truly belong. Besides that, I can’t think of much when put on the spot. Ask me back in a few and watch me rant about 1000 different things I want to do.