My dad told me something that I find very true: “Those who are unsuccessful do not know what they do not know.” Seeking assistance and realizing what one doesn’t know are keys to success. When we visited the library and I found out that there were actually websites to find non-profit organizations, I realized that I didn’t know a lot about researching.

I went home that day and explored the databases and online resources that the Newman Library offers. I was so interested by the varieties of research databases. I used them to look up information for my classes and I found that these databases are much more efficient than good ol’ Google.

Another thing I learned about from Stephen Francoeur was www.idealist.org. Idealist helped me and my group find a community organization that we were interested and one that was close to us. When we decided that we wanted to volunteer at an animal shelter, Idealist helped us locate an animal shelter that wasn’t very far from Baruch and provided shelter for cats and dogs.

The first few weeks of school, I was content with spending my two hour breaks with my friends but I wasn’t doing anything productive. I was exploring the area around the Baruch and scoping out vegetarian-friendly places to eat but it wasn’t really fulfilling. So I went to the Club Fair and signed up for a few clubs and attended meetings. I learned from a friend that there was a club called the South Asian Student Association at Baruch. Curiosity led me to find out when and where meetings were taking place and I attended a meeting. It wasn’t just the Indian food that was appealing; it was great to reconnect with my South Asian roots. So, I decided to join the club and I’ve been attending meetings to learn more about my culture. It’s been a great experience thus far and it has made me realize that there are so many ways to give back to the community.

On March 13^th, 2010, I remember getting a phone call from Baruch College. My dad answered the phone and a few, long seconds later, smiled broadly, thanked the person on the other end of the line, and replaced the phone in its charger. He told me that I had gotten into Baruch Honors, meaning I had the opportunity of going to college for free! It was the best birthday gift ever.

However, gifts like this one come with one golden rule: pay it forward. Whether it’s being involved in a community or being a Baruch Scholar, the one rule is to pay it forward. So, I got involved with a charity organization called Two Cents of Hope that is helping raise funds for education. The organization identifies students (elementary school-level as well as medical students) and raises funds and gives the money to the students’ education.

Being part of Baruch Scholars or even an organization like Two Cents of Hope is about doing something to help someone else. The Honors program gave me an opportunity and now it’s my turn to give an opportunity to someone else.

My community does so much for me. The channel that India Talks airs on is a public access channel, meaning the studio, the crew, and the equipment is free. I pay the opportunity to host my own television show forward by featuring community organizations on my show and getting the word out about their respective causes.

The Honors Program encourages us to accept opportunities but not take them for granted. Helping the community and giving opportunities to others does just that. While the Honors Program provides us with educational opportunities, it also provides us with the opportunity to become better people.