Growing up the library has always been one of my favorite places in the world. The library always offered and provided many positive resources such as entertainment and education. Entering Baruch, I explored the many services its library provides and I really appreciate many of the study spaces it provides. Although not as a group, individually I ended up spending a lot of time there because of the comfort and (semi)quiet it offers. For the community service project, as a group we did not have the need to use much of these resources in fact, but through personal use I have felt that these resources really did help me in my work, especially my other classes such as focusing me.

Although we have yet to start our community service project, I think the experience we have from volunteering will greatly affect and benefit not only the community but us in our future. By leaving our comfort zones and going out to serve, we are able to make new experiences and meet people we may have never crossed paths with otherwise. I hope that the service we do will increase our compassion for others less fortunate and to be more humble and grateful. In the next three years, it would be great to do more community services similar with our current planned program which is helping and aiding underprivileged children.

When I think of the word scholar, I usually associate the term with someone intellectual and knowledgeable about the modern world. Because a scholar is given greater opportunities in education, I suppose they have a… obligation to the rest of society to serve back to the community. Especially as Baruch is a CUNY and Scholars receive a substantial amount of financial support from Baruch, there seems to be a greater necessity for us to “pay-it-forward” even if it is just with our time: volunteering. As members of the Honors Program where we receive innumerable benefits, it only seems fitting for us to return the favor to the very community who does favors for us. As the schools choose their scholars, there is also a sense of representation that every scholar provides which does not per se distinguish them above their peers but does hold them to a higher standard that requires a greater degree of self-awareness and conduct. By having the culture of service to the community, scholars will be able to give as they receive and show an example to others who also have the ability to offer their time and efforts to others. As representatives of the school, by following good conduct, such as community service, people will be able to see the values of Baruch. I guess this is what Baruch wants to accomplish. Although it has a touch of idealism, it would really, truly be nice if people could serve their community when they can.

Although not a very credible source all the time, I think the idea behind this makes sense and summarizes our responsibilities.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/nathanwpyle/this-teacher-taught-his-class-a-powerful-lesson-about-privil

I am actually not a very “tech savvy” person, so it will be a bit difficult getting used to a online journal (which I’m pretty sure what a Blog is). I am a very private person and am thus a bit technophobic to a certain degree: a great icebreaker is when people ask why I put a post-it over the camera. For curious readers(?), viewers(?), passersby(?), it’s because of this article I read in the past: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/19/school-accused-of-using-webcam-to-photograph-student-at-home/ Sorry, I don’t trust you Baruch.

As you can tell, I am very cautious and practical. Growing up, television was absent in a good part of my childhood so I do believe that attributes to my slow uptake of technological innovations. I can’t really think of particular experiences but I believe my family and being raised as an Asian-American in general taught me many things such as patience and tolerance. I have a really close relationship with my mom, and have inherited her interest in statistics; I hope to learn more about it and the many statistical software like SAS in college. I honestly can’t wait until I can pack my schedule with only math classes… I don’t really have any specific expectations as every great expectation I had always ended in a grand disappointment and disaster so I just hope to do well in the first semester and start getting into the stat classes.