Caroline P.
Shaped by my background as a competitive figure skater, I've always been drawn to finding the science within the art of everything I do. Whether on the ice or in the classroom, I love exploring how structure and creativity can work together to tell powerful stories. That perspective has shaped my academic passion for storytelling, specifically, how communication can give shape and meaning to different lived experiences, especially those often left untold. The Communication major couldn't be a better match for my interests because it's given me the tools to study storytelling as both an art and a social science. Classes like Media Communication have deepened my understanding of how connections form and spread in the digital age, while Information Ethics, Law, and Policy challenged me to think critically about how those systems can be shaped to better serve others. I loved that class so much that I returned the following year as a teaching assistant. My passion for storytelling has continued to grow through Advanced Media Writing, where I discovered the power of embracing my voice within media pieces, and AI and Storytelling, which connected creativity and technology in entirely new ways. Together, these experiences have taught me that stories aren't just told; they're built, shared, and lived, and that thoughtful communication possesses the power to transform empathy into real-life impact.
My go-to campus resources are, without a doubt, my advisors. Between my academic advisor in the Communication Department (who also happens to be the professor I serve as a Learning Assistant for), the many club advisors I've gotten to know through my involvement in over 15 different organizations, and the CALS advisors always available in the CALSZone, I've built an incredible network of mentors across campus. I first discovered the value of advising by simply getting involved and reaching out for guidance. Over time, those relationships have become some of the most meaningful parts of my Cornell experience. Whether it's stopping by the Communication Hub to talk through my schedule, catching up with my Panhellenic Council advisor after a weekly e-board meeting, or popping into the CALSZone for an impromptu resume review, I always leave those conversations feeling supported, inspired, and reminded that Cornell is a community built on support, both for yourself and for others.
In the whirlwind that is college application season, my biggest piece of advice would be to pause, take a deep breath, and reflect. Really reflect on what makes you light up. You get to define what success looks like for you. It's not about where you end up, but about how you show up each day—with your passions, your curiosity, and the relationships you build along the way. When I came to Cornell, the first thing I asked myself was, "What kind of person do I want to be in every community I step foot into?" That question has guided everything I've done since. I've made it a priority to get involved in organizations that align with what I value most—mentorship, storytelling, wellness, community, and leadership—and in doing so, I've found communities that feel like home. Some of the most meaningful lessons I've learned here have come from experiences outside the classroom, where I've had the opportunity to lead, listen, and grow alongside my peers. College will give you endless opportunities to explore, and no matter where you go, you'll always be armed with your passions, your knowledge, and the people who believe in you. So lean into what excites you, stay curious, and don't forget to have fun along the way. Be bold, be brave. And above all, be kind.
Clubs! I've always believed that the best way to find your people is to dive into the things you love—and maybe even sprinkle in a few things you never expected to try. When I got to Cornell, I wanted to strike a balance between exploring new experiences and grounding myself in ones that already felt familiar. Joining clubs through ClubFest helped me do exactly that. I reconnected with something I've loved my whole life through the Figure Skating Club, but I also stepped outside my comfort zone by joining Outdoor Odyssey, where I backpacked through the Adirondacks for six days before classes even started. From there, everything fell into place. Now, many of my closest friends come from the communities I've built through the organizations I'm part of. Each one has given me a different type of support system, but all share the same sense of purpose and joy that make Cornell feel just like home.
Definitely Terrace! It's my go-to lunch spot on campus—especially for their burrito bowls (always with orange chicken, a generous scoop of guacamole, and plenty of boom boom sauce). Terrace is tucked inside the academic wing of the Statler Hotel, giving it this cool, bustling energy with students, professors, and hotel guests all mixing together. It's one of those places where you can grab something quick between classes, catch up with a friend, or just take a breather while people-watching. Plus, it's always delicious!
I'm a huge nature girlie at heart, so my favorite thing to do in Ithaca is taking advantage of its "gorges" natural beauty. Whether it's strolling from Stewart Park to the Ithaca Farmers Market on a sunny Sunday afternoon, adventuring around Taughannock Falls, soaking in the late-summer rays at Second Dam, or starting my mornings with a peaceful run around Beebe Lake, there's always something magical to explore.
My favorite Cornell memory isn't tied to one single, grand event. Rather, it exists in the small, in-between moments that have quietly yet greatly shaped my college experience. I think back to late-night study sessions in my sorority house, spontaneous boba runs to Collegetown between classes, or hot girl walks to the Dairy Bar that somehow turned into hours of laughter and deep conversation. I first realized the power of those everyday interactions when I served as Chapter President of my sorority as a first-year student. While I held a formal position, what mattered most wasn't the meetings or events; it was the trust built through small acts of care: sending a quick text message to a friend, being a shoulder to lean on during a prelim-heavy week, or celebrating one of my sister's wins as if it were my own. That experience taught me that leadership and community aren't defined by grand gestures, but by the consistency of kindness. Now, when I think about Cornell, I think about all the ways that same spirit shows up across all corners of campus. These simple yet genuine moments of connection are what make Cornell feel like home—and I wouldn't want it any other way.
What inspires me most at Cornell is the people. Everyone here is so passionate about their "thing," whether that's research, art, athletics, sustainability, or really any other category you could think of—and they're eager to share that passion with others. No matter where you go on campus, you can feel that drive and curiosity radiating from the people around you. I'm constantly inspired by the variety of perspectives I encounter in every space I'm involved in, from classrooms to club meetings to late-night conversations with friends. There's no cookie-cutter "look" of a Cornellian, and I think that's what makes our community so special. To me, that diversity of thought and lived experience creates a vibrant mosaic—one that reminds me that there's no one right way to make an impact. Seeing others chase what they love, in their own unique ways, inspires me to keep pursuing my own passions with the same sense of purpose and drive.
I've always believed that everyone has a place at Cornell. Ironically, my twin sister and I had completely different visions for what we wanted in a college experience. She was drawn to more urban schools with fast-paced, pre-professional environments, while I dreamed of a smaller, community-oriented college with a liberal arts focus. Cornell was one of the few schools we both applied to—and the only one that said "yes" to both of us. During Cornell Days, we stood together at the top of Libe Slope, looking out at Cayuga Lake and realizing that this place could hold both of our dreams at once. That's the magic of Cornell: it's the best of both worlds, and everything in between.
Foundations in Leadership (LEAD 3100) completely reshaped how I think about leadership by showing me that it's not defined by titles or authority, but by empathy, self-awareness, and the ability to foster environments where others can grow into their best selves. One of my biggest takeaways was that people may not always remember the specifics of what you accomplished, but they'll always remember how you made them feel. That takeaway has become my compass guiding everything I do. What makes LEAD 3100 even more meaningful is how it inspired me to pay those lessons forward. I now serve as a Student Leadership Facilitator in the College of Engineering, guiding first-year students as they uncover their own leadership potential. It's been incredibly rewarding to share the same lessons that shaped me in CALS with students across campus—proof that at Cornell, leadership and kindness aren't limited by college or title.
What makes the Cornell experience unique is its sense of scale and intimacy all at once. It's a world-class university with endless opportunities that somehow still feels like a tight-knit Big Red family. You can walk out of a lecture hall with 300 students and immediately run into a professor who remembers your name, or bump into three people you know just crossing the Arts Quad. There's this constant feeling that you're part of something much bigger while still being deeply seen within it. Cornell also stands out for how seamlessly different disciplines intersect. With the flexibility to minor across colleges, you might find engineers (like my sister) in leadership courses (with students like me), communication majors in design studios, and agriculture students debating policy alongside economists. That blend of perspectives makes learning here so dynamic and deeply human. At Cornell, it's less about what college you belong to, and more about what you bring to the conversation.
Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar, Kappa Delta Sorority - President, Panhellenic Council - Vice President, Big Red Ambassadors - Vice President, CALS Ambassadors - Recruitment Coordinator, Figure Skating Club - Competition Team Athlete, Outdoor Odyssey - Guide & Marketing Chair, Hopelessly Yellow - Writer, Communication Student Advisory Board - Member, Order of Omega - Member, Group and Interpersonal Communication Research (GRIP) Lab - Research Assistant, Selander Center for Engineering Leadership - Student Leadership Facilitator, Advanced Media Writing (COMM 3050), Learning Assistant for Information Ethics, Law, and Policy (INFO 1200), and Teaching Assistant for Introductory Oceanography (EAS 1540).
The magic of Cornell truly lies in the people who make the place. Everyone here is so passionate about their "thing," and over the past two years, I've had the privilege of learning something new from my classmates every single day. There are also endless opportunities to get involved on campus. I've had a blast diving into new experiences—like backpacking for the first time on a six-day pre-orientation trip with Outdoor Odyssey (which I loved so much that I returned the next year as a Guide!)—and finding comfort in old ones, like figure skating. I've been a competitive skater for 18 years, and becoming regional champions with the club team this fall was a dream come true. At Cornell, there's always someone to learn from and someone to share existing passions with, and that unparalleled vibrancy within our Big Red family is what makes this place unlike any other.
CALS is the perfect fit for me because it blends all the aspects I love: curiosity, community, and connection. What I love most about CALS is how it turns education into action. Through my coursework and hands-on experiences in the Communication Department—like conducting research in the GRIP Lab and serving as a learning assistant for Advanced Media Writing—I've learned that communication is its own form of leadership: listening deeply, collaborating authentically, and helping others feel seen and embraced. As someone who's passionate about mentorship and community, I've seen how CALS doesn't just shape great thinkers; it builds leaders who uplift others along the way. Additionally, as a Leadership minor (which is also housed in CALS), one of my most meaningful experiences was taking Foundations in Leadership during my sophomore fall. I applied the principles I learned in that class during my time as Chapter President of my sorority and have carried those lessons into every leadership role I've taken on since. To me, that course—and so many others within CALS—perfectly embodies the college's mission of bridging knowledge with real-world influence. CALS also feels like home to me in a personal way. I grew up figure skating in rinks that were surrounded by farmland, training alongside kids whose families owned dairies and crop fields. Now, I get to study communication while immersing myself in that same culture of grounded curiosity, learning from peers who care deeply about sustainability, agriculture, the life sciences, and social good. And, in all honesty, CALS is just so unbelievably fun. I mean, what other college can you say, "Yeah, my day was great! I hung out with a mini horse in Mann Library." I'll wait.
Over the past two summers, I've had the absolute joy of working as a Seasonal Educator at lululemon, where I truly got to live the lululemon lifestyle—and I loved every second of it. From helping guests discover their perfect fits on the floor to supporting behind-the-scenes operations, no two days ever looked the same. Each day brought a new opportunity to connect with members of the local community, learn from their stories, and apply what I've studied in Communication to real-world experiences. It was incredible to watch the theories and frameworks I've learned in class come to life during each shift. After graduation, I hope to transition into a role in strategic communications at lululemon headquarters, continuing to explore how the values and skills I've built as an Educator—coupled with my Cornell education—can translate into the corporate realm. At the same time, I'm keeping an open mind! I'm excited to see where my core values and evolving passions will lead me next.
The Communication Hub! It's easily my favorite place to study on campus. While it's open to all majors, it feels especially meaningful to me as a Communication student. Located on the top floor of Mann Library, the space is filled with natural light—perfect for afternoon study sessions with a Gimme! Coffee in hand—and the open layout makes it easy to spread out my materials and really lock in. What I love most, though, is that it's surrounded by the people who have shaped my Cornell experience the most. My professors, TAs, and classmates are literally just around the corner, and it's not uncommon for a quick study break to turn into a meaningful conversation about annotated bibliographies, internship opportunities, or simply how life is going. I've always firmly believed that so much of learning happens outside the classroom, and the Communication Hub is proof of just that. It's a beautiful space where lessons from lectures come to life through authentic, spontaneous conversations—the kind that can't be replicated by any textbook.
Libe Slope, 100%. It's my favorite spot on campus, hands down. No matter the day or season, it's the one place where everyone seems to come together and slow down. I love how students from all across Cornell—different majors, clubs, and corners of campus—unite beneath the same picturesque view as the sun sets over Cayuga Lake. There's something about that moment that feels both grounding and collective, like we're all part of something bigger than ourselves. Some of my favorite memories have been made on the slope: spontaneous picnics with friends after a long week, FaceTime calls home while watching the sky turn lavender, quiet evenings when I just needed a second to stop and breathe. Our "slopesets" have a unique way of putting everything into perspective. They remind me why I came to Cornell in the first place: to learn, to grow, and to share this experience with others who are just as curious and full of life. Although we all lead such busy, complex lives here, Libe Slope is proof that there's always time to pause, to reflect, to connect, and to enjoy the same sunset together. It's the kind of moment that reminds you: you're exactly where you're meant to be.
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