Francis X.
Living in the Veteran Program House has offered me the tools and the degree of freedom that I need to take on a new hobby—cooking! Several retail stores, like Walmart and Wegmans, are available for me to acquire groceries, and if that isn't quite my taste at the time, I go to Ren's Mart, Ithaca Tofu, Greenstar, and the Ithaca Farmers Market!
My favorite memory of Cornell did not happen recently, but rather, a decade ago as a young teenager. I recall me and my family on a snowy day visiting my cousin studying at Binghamton University at the time. We also explored another campus that I took a few pictures of, without thinking much of it. Years later, I realized that campus was Cornell, and the photo I had taken was of Libe Slope. Finding that out was a strange and intriguing reminder that I've been moving toward this place longer than I knew.
INFO 4320: Introduction to Rapid Prototyping and Physical Computing is by far one of my favorite classes. The workload is very intense, but it is very well worth it. I got the opportunity to get hands-on with a wide variety of tools that I've never touched before, including breadboards, laser cutters, and 3D printers. It allowed me to gain invaluable skill sets that I've used very often to create a variety of awesome projects during my time enrolled in this course. I also saw my coding background merge with physical design, and I saw for myself how the code I write directly drives how a mechanism moves and behaves. That connection between the digital and the physical is something I never thought I needed to experience until it actually happened.
I had the opportunity to join peers within the student veteran community to attend an annual conference held by the Ivy League Veterans Council. The conference allowed us to gain a better understanding of what student veterans across the Ivy League and Ivy League+ are going through, and what successes we have achieved and challenges we are experiencing on our respective campuses. This grants each attendant valuable insight into several other ways we can improve our imprint on our campuses, and is a stark reminder that the work we do is part of a much bigger picture.
The Computing and Information Science building has become my go-to place to study. It's newly constructed, the large windows feature a great view of the Gates Hall building, and it is where my INFO 4320 class is located (that my classmates and I have exclusive access to), so it already feels like home turf to me. The parking lot nearby makes everything convenient as well; for a late-night study session, I can drive in, park, and get straight to work.
I participate in the Cornell Undergraduate Veteran Association and the Veterans Social Club, though I concentrate most of my efforts as a Recruiter for the Veterans Program House and as a Student Veteran Ambassador.
The vibrant atmosphere of the traditional campus environment is perhaps my favorite thing about Cornell. Being born and raised in New York City, the campus contrasts with the metropolis of the Big Apple, being much quieter and more open, with a pace that actually lets you breathe. The freedom to slow down and focus was something I didn't think I would need until I had it.
My passions span Mathematics, Discrete Math, Programming, and Artificial Intelligence. Studying Information Science made me realize that these interests I have are layers of the same thing, and it has allowed me to evolve those interests into something more purposeful: Full Stack Development. I aim to bring together the interests and skillsets I've learned and developed at Cornell to build web applications that are both functional and meaningful to the people who use them.
Visit the campus in person if you can. Experience life as though you're a current student; walk through the department you're interested in, and talk to students and faculty directly. Start emailing professors and connecting with students and alumni on LinkedIn early. That firsthand perspective you receive can completely change how you approach both your application and your decision.
When I first visited Cornell during admissions season, I was suggested to visit the Veterans Program House, where I was first exposed to the student veteran community on campus. Being able to live amongst other people who have enlisted, served, and were now navigating the same transition back to school made the adjustment far less isolating. The bonds I've built there are some of the strongest I've made anywhere, and they've branched out into friendships across the wider campus community.
Growing up in New York City, I never had to look far for things to do or places to be. Enlisting in the Marines took me further—across the country and overseas—and somewhere in all of that travel, I developed a real taste for new environments. I saw Cornell as an opportunity to step into somewhere unfamiliar, build something new, and push myself in ways that the city couldn't offer. I have always told myself that if I ever got another chance to venture somewhere relatively new to me, I would take it within a heartbeat.
My go-to place to eat in the middle of central campus is Trillium Dining Hall! I would very often go to the Asian stall and order the BBQ Pork and Lo Mein.
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