Sofia S.
I am involved in Cornell Speech and Debate, A&S Ambassadors, and Cornell’s chapter of Project Level the Field.
Throughout my time at Cornell, my favorite thing has become my daily walk to class. I have lived on North Campus my entire time here, and crossing the bridge to the other side of the gorge never gets old. I especially love the smaller footbridges, and stopping to look out at the trees' colors in the fall. It gives me pause, as the rush of the water and expanse of Cayuga Lake in the distance remind me to take a break from sometimes-frantic student life. While these are great solitary walks, I also love spending them with friends—it's a great way to step back from work and enjoy each other's company.
Creatively, I'm very inspired by poetry, philosophical theory, and visual art. I have also gotten into knitting recently, so I like looking online for patterns and seeing all the cool things people create. Academically, hearing about others' research is always so interesting, especially when it's in subjects outside my areas of interest. No matter what, there's always something to take away from listening to others talk about their passions, and from being a good listener generally: you never know when an idea will hit you next.
The best class I've taken so far at Cornell was Intermediate Poetry Writing with Professor Valzhyna Mort. Not only did she have a beautiful and unique way of explaining poetic form in relation to content, but she also required us to attend readings and events on campus to supplement our learning, such as the English department's Zalaznick Series. I left class every day feeling inspired, whether it was by a peer workshop session or by the poetry we were assigned to read. Professor Mort also fostered such a great environment for collaboration and community building: I still hear from some of my classmates now, a semester later. Most importantly, my own writing was met with detailed, precise feedback and focused attention that few courses have ever lived up to.
Post-graduation, I plan on attending pharmacy school or pursuing an English PhD and a professorship. I'm in the process of applying for both opportunities, so I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds!
My favorite study spot is Gimme Coffee in Gates Hall! I am not an engineer by any means, but the light and spaciousness of Gates is perfect for long periods of studying, especially in the morning when the sun is the brightest. It's a little bit of a trek, but once you arrive, it's so worth it. I also love finding empty classrooms in Goldwin Smith Hall to study in; I find it's really easy to lose track of time focusing there. I've studied for countless prelims and filled out dozens of internship applications in those rooms, so I consider myself an expert. :)
One of my favorite places in Ithaca has to be The Soil Factory. They offer beginner pottery classes periodically on the weekends, and I go there often to practice on the wheel and do some hand building. Even if you have no experience with crafting, it's an incredibly welcoming space with very friendly people. It's also a really nice escape from busy classes, and they have a ton of other cool programs, like mending sessions, film screenings, and even print and garden workshops!
Cornell Arts & Sciences has provided me with a crucial opportunity to pursue interdisciplinary studies. When I came to Cornell for the first time, studying across disciplines was one of my primary goals, and I am happy to confirm that I was able to do so. Besides the College Scholar Program, which is inherently multidisciplinary, each class, whether it's in English or anthropology or even statistics, has elements of other subjects. I love expanding past the syllabus and applying theory to my other areas of interest. It's so thrilling to be working on an essay or assignment and say "hey, I've seen this before," or "I know exactly what relates here!" I feel it has made me a better scholar to be able to work across various areas at once.
Cornell is unique to me because of the breadth and depth of community I have found here. Wherever you look, there will be people for you: in your classes, in clubs and organizations, even in the local Ithaca area. Many students are so willing to build relationships with each other, and once you form them, they will be such meaningful bonds with such special people. Cornell really offers a huge range of spaces for extremely varying interests: it's amazing how anyone can find their place here.
I love being a College Scholar alongside majoring in English because of the breadth of theory I get to use in order to investigate very specific topics. For instance, my primary area of interest is how a poet's individuality is communicated via literary devices. While this seems limited to the study of creative writing and poetic craft, in reality, I have taken classes in anthropology, philosophy, and even biology and psychology in order to gain a fuller picture. Being a College Scholar has allowed me to synthesize all the subjects I am interested in into a single project, which is the most valuable academic experience I've had at Cornell thus far.
Although this is a fairly obvious answer, my number one campus resource is Cornell's many libraries. Until the summer before my junior year, I had no idea how much they had to offer. As a Nexus Scholar in Arts & Sciences, I used the library to learn more about citation programs, to meet with advisors to hone my research project, and to check out physical materials to aid my work. Besides the academic resources, I love Olin and Uris Libraries for their great study spaces, full of windows and spacious desks. The libraries also allow you to reserve private rooms for more dedicated work time, which is so nice if the rest of campus feels a little too busy. My favorite library to study at has to be the Mui Ho Fine Arts Library—it is so beautiful!
When I was applying to Cornell, I wish I could tell myself to stop doubting my own qualifications and intelligence! Being at such a rigorous university, it's easy to wonder how you got there, or why you applied in the first place. Keep in mind that you're drawn to Cornell for a reason: have confidence in your abilities and experience, and once you're here, it will become clear that this is where you belong.
During my first week at Cornell, I met some of my closest friends (and roommates!) through the Speech Team. I had previous speech experience in high school, so I knew I wanted to continue competing in college, but nothing could have prepared me for the utter sense of belonging and welcome I experienced when I joined the team here. The coaches are dedicated to working with folks with any experience level, so it really provides a super fun and diverse range of students from different colleges and different majors. Whether it's going out to dinner as a group, practicing with coaches, or traveling to tournaments at other universities, Cornell Speech has been a home for me.
Put simply, I chose Cornell because it had the widest range of academic and extracurricular options out of all the colleges I applied to. Arts & Sciences, with its broad distribution requirements, allowed me to pursue various threads of study during my time here: a quality I knew I needed in a university when I initially applied. I went into Cornell as a double major in Chemistry and English, and although Chemistry is no longer for me, I've found that the flexibility and privilege of choice Cornell offers is unlike any other institution I've looked into. Besides the major-related attributes, Cornell and the surrounding Ithaca area are just beautiful. I come from the relatively flat Midwest, so the gorges, waterfalls, and hills were completely new and exciting for me—to this day, they never get old.
For a quick lunch, I love Temple of Zeus! Their bagels are amazing, and it's great for an iced latte or matcha as well. But when it comes to dinner, Risley Dining Hall is just the best; it's super close to campus, so it's convenient to pop over between classes or studying. It's also the most allergy-conscious dining hall and provides great vegetarian options.
Going to the Alley Cat Cafe has to be my favorite weekend pastime! I have a dog at home, so it's nice to connect with pets when I can. I also plan on getting a cat post-graduation, so going to play with the cats is great practice.
Something I will always remember is when my friends and I walked to the Johnson Museum in the middle of the night and lay in the grass, looking up at the light patterns on the balcony ceiling. It was one of the last nights of our first year, and we were all feeling emotional about how much we had grown, both individually and as a group. Tears were shed, for sure, but it was such a beautiful night. The stars are also so bright here, so the Johnson's lights weren't the only gorgeous thing in the sky.
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