Everyday, there are buses going to Atlantic City casinos or Foxwoods parked along Bowery and Division Streets.  These buses attract all sorts of dirty bums, the terminally unemployed and other types of riff raffs.  These buses have been operating in Chinatown for many years now and it is usually the same bunch of folks that get on – I lived here long enough to recognize most of these people.  They loiter in the middle of these busy streets smoking their Marlboro cigarettes, spitting, and littering their trash as they wait for the next bus to Bally’s. 

It is a known fact that the Chinese are attracted to games of chance and luck – we love to gamble.  At least six different casino buses each making trips eight times a day, seven days a week, add fuel to this debilitating addiction – they make access to this vice, which erodes any society, way too convenient.  These bus companies, subsidized by the casinos, offer a free buffet along with a gaming voucher worth $20 just for getting on the bus.  Once at the casinos, these individuals are drawn to the false hopes of quick riches. Unfortunately, this is not an addiction they can afford to have. 

A more recent phenomenon is the buses travelling to nearby cities.  Chinatown is now overcrowded with travelers looking for a dirt cheap ride to Boston, Philly, and DC.  Most of these people are simply passing through – they have no interest in the prosperity of my community.  Many streets are crowded with long lines of travelers hauling their luggage blocking the already thin sidewalks and causing heavy pedestrian traffic.  Often times, these buses will be filled to capacity and many are left stranded to loiter and sleep overnight on the streets as they await the next 8 a.m. bus.  Just like the folks that get on the casino buses, these travelers leave behind piles of trash and debris. 

Anyone who ever been to or live in Chinatown knows how narrow the streets are.  Imagine the length of a street lined up with three large buses spewing its fumes as pedestrians pass by – this is a constant daily occurrence and a reality of life here.  The pollution and traffic these buses cause is of great concern to the standard of living in Chinatown.  The economic benefits that are bestowed upon these bus companies and the few sundry shops nearby are far outweighed by the increased litter, high pollution, traffic, and safety issues that these buses generate.

Bus rides to Boston, Philly, or DC cost about $15 each way – with the high price of fuel, maintenance, and other overhead expenses, it is hard to imagine these bus operators enjoying high profit margins.  It is a shame that this is allowed to continue at the expense of this community.  These streets were never meant to be used as a bus depot – that’s why we have the Port Authority Bus Terminal – now get this shit out of here!

And now the thought of me going back for more when it wasn’t even required or expected of me didn’t make me very excited.  Also, I didn’t think that I had what it took to get in.  It had been years since I opened a textbook and studied.  However, I always felt that undergrad was very easy.  I thought that almost anyone could do the minimal amount of work and pass.  I graduated with a 3.2 GPA and double majored without breaking a sweat in exactly three and a half years at Brooklyn College.  There were actually two classes where I showed up three times – first day of class, midterm exam, and final exam – and I passed with an A, while other students who diligently showed up each class struggled to get a C.  I guess in the back of my mind, I felt that maybe it was possible for me to do this.

The first thing that I had to do was to find out exactly what I should study.  I had worked at the Martha Graham Dance Company for over a year as an accountant.  There, I worked closely with Nancy Lou Bright, the Director of Finance.  It was her who gave me the opportunity to learn a lot about accounting and finance.  And boy, did I have to learn quickly.  About the time I got there, the company fell into a financial mess and we constantly struggled to pay all our bills and make payroll.  The details I will not get into right now, but it was truly trial by fire.  My next position was a stint as the controller at a graphic design studio.  During my time at these two jobs, I was able to learn a thing or two about debits and credits, so perhaps I should focus on accounting (I eventually declared a double major in Finance and Marketing instead).

Then came my first real challenge – the big fat 2006 Kaplan GMAT study book, New York City edition.  I cannot begin to tell you all the crazy grammatical forms and sentence corrections that I needed to study.  There were also tons of wacky math problems which I had to conquer.  But I knew with perseverance and support from Jenny, I would be able to do this.

I was not going to pay $21 g’s to go to NYU’s Stern or $44 g’s per year to go to Columbia Business School (I say this as if they would have accepted me).  I only submitted one application to the only school that I really wanted to get into – Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business.  I was going to attend school there or not do this at all.

I took the GMAT, wrote my personal essay, and got my two letters of recommendation.  However, there was one last hurdle to overcome – an interview with Mr. John Albanese, the director of the full-time MBA program at Baruch.  The only thing that I remembered from that day was bumping into him in the men’s room prior to our meeting, not knowing who he was, and totally ignoring him.  

After that interview, my fate was out of my control.  During the following week, I half-assed job interviewed at a few places as a hedge against a potential rejection from Baruch.  I was earning some money on the side by designing custom t shirts and selling them on eBay.  That was really fun, but if I didn’t get into b-school, I knew I needed to get a real job.

I remember this day vividly – June 7, 2006.  It was a nasty, windy, and rainy day.  I had just interviewed for an accountant position at some bullshit construction firm.  They gave me an offer on the spot and wanted me to start immediately.  It was tempting, but I told them that I needed a day to consider it.  Upon walking out of the building, I immediately called Jenny to check my email to see if Baruch had sent me anything.  It was a surreal moment when she said “oh my god, you got into their honors program” – standing there in the pouring rain, it was exactly what I needed to hear at that very moment.  I immediately rushed home to read the email for myself.

In all honesty, I never expected to attain a post graduate degree.  That thought had crossed my mind only for a fleeting moment – as a one in a million shot.  It was because Jenny showed undying faith in my abilities that this became a real possibility – and now a reality (class of 2008).