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My role in Baruch and the broader community as a Baruch Scholar is that of a student who gets to go to school for free because of his academic achievements and his academic potential. This role defines me and as well as other students to be as academically ambitious as possible and to give back as much as possible to the community. However, I feel my own personal role in Baruch should be to set a motivational role to peers and friends to show them that I am making full use of everything the Honors Program is offering to me. The culture of service the Honors Program promotes can actually greatly affect a student’s life. We have all received a free Mac Book as a gift from the program, not to mention the full academic scholarship. They top it off with 100 dollars for printing services as well. However, these perks are not all that the Honors Program offers. They offer us ways to reach out, to go beyond our comfort zones and into other peoples. They offer us ways for us to advance ourselves, for example, if we need a job or internship, the STARR career development center is there to help. If we need help on a paper due the next day, the writing center is available. If we want to travel and study in a different country, there are grants and scholarships available through the Honors Program. And most importantly, they are also giving us chances to give back to the community, chances for us to help others since the program has helped and given so much to so many of us. The culture of service the Honors Program promotes is something one can only describe as self-less, caring, and giving; the definition of community. The Baruch Honors community is truly one that works around and for the students, and in turn, we should adopt their giving ways and give back to others as much as we can.

I’m Darren. I live in Flushing, Queens. I have a 4-year-old baby sister who seems to be developing into a lefty. It seems to annoy my traditional Chinese parents who want her to use her right hand instead. I think it will be good for her; it could help her develop ambidexterity, which is what I have been trying to acquire. I graduated Stuyvesant High School and even though I graduated, I still find myself near Stuy at Battery Park from time to time. This park holds and creates many enduring memories for me. I strongly recommend you visit it if you’re ever around Tribeca. It will definitely leave a lasting impression. Plus, it a very short and pleasant walk to Chinatown. I like to consider it as one of my many havens. During my free time, I like to hang out with my friends, play sports (mostly handball and basketball), shoot pool, and play tons of video games whenever I find myself indoors. I am also a movie fanatic, as well as a tough movie critic (I watch almost every new movie that comes out each week). I am a fan of old school hip-hop but I like to listen to other genres of music as well, such as alternative, rock, trance, techno, or anything else that catches my ears. As far as television goes, a funny sitcom, South Park, or Sportscenter usually does the trick while I munch on dinner.

As a college student, I am undecided about my major. I want to find an interest within the next two years, an interest that can develop into a lasting career that I will enjoy waking up to for the rest of my life. I am currently working part-time at Argo Tea, a café that specializes in tea. This part-time job not only helps fill in my extra time (I disagree a third of your day be dedicated to sleep), it also gives me experience for future employment opportunities, not to mention the nice extra cash on the side. However, I am starting to recognize the detrimental effects it has on me and my schoolwork. My goals are to maintain at least a 3.5 GPA, develop better time management, and meet new people. I love to make new friends. However, I fear I am too attached to so many of my close friends that I would not have the capability, the will, and the time to make new ones. My relationship with my friends mean a lot to me.

I pride myself on my integrity and honesty. And trust me, honesty pays off, literally. I had this job one summer when I worked for a James Wu who was running for city council. It was an easy job that paid ten dollars an hour for putting up posters and you get paid on your breaks. I remember one time when we were all done with work and we reported back to the office, our supervisor asked us to clock out since we were on the clock for just socializing in the office. My friend and I were the only ones that did, but we stayed there just to enjoy the company. The others didn’t bother and stayed for the extra hour’s pay. My supervisor who’s in the office with us the whole time noticed this and the next day when he only needed a couple people to work, he decided to call me and my friend. The other workers got the extra hour’s pay for socializing, but we were awarded a full day’s. It became a reminder that stuck and has helped me through many questionable decisions and in a way, has helped define me.