HOST INTRO: Being that Baruch College is known as a commuter school, having a social life is tough. Many do not get the typical college experience one would if they were on a college campus. Baruch College is located in New York City which makes it challenging to have a typical college experience. For Baruch College students to have a social life, they must make the effort to get involved in clubs, join extracurriculars or go out of their way to make friends in their classes. Elissa Leung, junior at Baruch College majoring in math, talks about how she adjusted well at Baruch College after being virtual for two years.
AMBI: Sound of Baruch College campus in New York City on a typical day of classes.
TRACK: I am here with Elissa Leung in the athletic area in level B2 of the Newman Vertical Campus at Baruch College next to the entrance of the gymnasium and the overhead of the swimming pool. She is a junior undergraduate student-athlete at CUNY Baruch College. Leung says she has been able to improve her social life by being on the women’s basketball team and the Baruch Scholar Honors program. She said her junior year is going well as it is a work in progress. She talks about a STARR Career Development program that she believes is going to help prepare her for her future career.
ACT: ELISSA: I am personally interested in working in data science in the future. I really want to in the future work in technology and be able to pursue a math degree and that is where data science comes in. This Technology, Leadership, Development program meets twice a week during club hours. It is honestly the commitment of another class so basically taking five classes because we have assignments due and we have to work on team projects with our team members and things like that.
TRACK: On top of her academics she is focused on her future career but also makes her social life a priority. Leung talks about how she developed a strong social life after being online for two years during the pandemic.
ACT: ELISSA: I was fortunate because I am part of the Baruch Scholars Honor program and I actually have friends in Macaulay Honors. I know at Baruch it is hard to find friends and make a social life. Outside of school I am on the Baruch women’s basketball team which also helped me with my social life. I also gained new friends with my teammates and other student-athletes.
TRACK: Something that has helped Leung have a social life is being in athletics and her programs that she is involved in. It gave her a sense of community with being on her team and having her program from the start helped her be around like-minded individuals that help her excel into the best version of herself.
ACT: ELISSA: I think it is big to know what you are passionate about and there are clubs at Baruch for everything like video games, business, things like that. You don’t have to limit yourself just to go to business heavy clubs there are also social clubs. So just putting yourself out there, as hard as it is, it is the best thing to do if you want to have a social life at Baruch.
TRACK: Junior, Elissa Leung will continue to make the best out of her college experience as she is working towards her future career goals. For Baruch College, I am Julia Cuttone.