Baruch Students Give Thanks…because the Little Things do Count

By: Farzana Ghanie
Class of 2014, Peer for Career
As we, residents of the tri-state area, continue to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy many of us have realized how important the little things in life like basic necessities – truly are. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the Peers for Careers at the STARR Career Development Center thought it would be nice to share the gratitude that some Baruch students are feeling this holiday season.“Hurricane Sandy was a rude awakening for many of us. After seeing the severity of Sandy and the destruction it caused, I am grateful for having a roof over my head, food, water, power. My heart goes out to the families who have lost everything. The strength to get back on their feet is admiring, and the countless volunteers who have helped with recover process, their actions are endearing,” said Senior Nikita Singh.Singh was one of many students who shared her reactions to Sandy as well as her appreciation for having safely weathered the storm.

“I am thankful for my parents for holding it together during the hurricane,” said senior, Shirley Cheung, whose community suffered flooding and power outage as a result of the storm.

Living in an area, which was also affected by the natural disaster, junior, Yahya Khan, expressed his gratitude for the restoration of power and heat in his neighborhood.

“I am thankful for the understanding and determination that allows me to adapt to any situation,” said sophomore, Jason Ioffe.  As an active student leader, Ioffe helps students in various capacities through his different positions in many of the offices and around campus.

International business major, Harshita Parkh is grateful for pursuing a major that she is passionate about.  The Career Center has played an integral role in Parikh’s professional development.  Parikh joined Peers for Careers, a leadership program, which provides undergraduates with the opportunity to assist other students in their professional development during her freshman year.  This role has given her greater insight into resume, cover letter, and thank you letter writing, as well as interviewing techniques.

“I am thankful for the opportunities that have came my way and the resources at Baruch College that have helped me take advantage of the opportunities,” said Sam Wong, finance major.  Throughout her time at Baruch, Wong has also taken advantage of the many resources offered by the SCDC.  In addition to utilizing Baruch’s career database, STARR Search, Wong has participated in On Campus Recruiting.

Senior, Liz De La Cruz is thankful for her full-time offer as well as her acceptance to her chosen study abroad program.  De La Cruz will be spending the winter intersession taking classes in and travelling around Brazil.

Observing individuals, neighbors and strangers alike, helping each other as we travel down the road to recovery is heartwarming.  Sometimes we become so comfortable with the little things in life that we lose sight of their value.  Something as small as a smile or a simple “thank you” can make someone’s day so much brighter. As we enter the holiday season, let us celebrate and embrace the good things no matter how small, because as Sandy has shown us, sometimes it is the absence of the small things that have the biggest impacts on our lives.

On behalf of the Peers for Careers and Starr Career Development Center, I wish you a safe and festive Thanksgiving!