Truman P.
My favorite class has been Advocacy and Debate with Sam Nelson. It's a Wednesday evening class, which could be a drag but the way he lectures and engages the class makes it super captivating. I look forward to Wednesday night every week.
What makes Cornell truly unique is the combination of the people and the place. The people here are largely intellectually curious individuals who are constantly pushing each other to think bigger and do more. There is a collective ambition on campus that motivates everyone to be the best they can be. This combined with the escape of the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes region, has a way of grounding you. Watching the seasons transform the campus serves as a constant reminder that the world we're studying and working to improve is right outside.
I hope to use my double major to contribute to the development of sustainable food systems worldwide. I would love to contribute to developing a food product that can more effectively or efficiently feed the millions of hungry people on the planet.
My favorite study spot is the white high-top tables in Mann Library. They're where I go to cram, work on an essay, or any time when I really need to lock in.
Cornell Consulting Club, Grub Ventures, CALS Global Fellow, Cornell Institute for Food Systems, and Cornell Food Science Club
The nature that surrounds the campus is so constantly stunning. The constantly changing seasons means that no one day on campus is the same, every season offers something different and allows for any student to make the most out of their time in Ithaca.Â
CALS has given me the opportunity to pursue a unique combination of majors in Food Science and Environment & Sustainability. The interconnectedness of the college has made it possible to embrace both fields while still having the flexibility to explore individual courses that spark my curiosity. What has made this journey even more rewarding is the community behind it, from professors and faculty to fellow students, everyone has been incredibly supportive of my path.
My academic passion lies at the intersection of food science and the environment. They are two fields that I believe are inseparable when it comes to addressing the challenges facing our planet. At Cornell I have had the opportunity to contribute to a scoping review on food systems and global change, commissioned by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Working on a project with that kind of real-world reach reinforced why I chose this unique path. It drew directly on both of my majors and showed me how rigorous academic research can inform policy and create meaningful change on a global scale.
One resource that has been incredibly helpful for me is the Learning Strategies Center. When I was working through a particularly challenging Organic Chemistry course, the LSC gave me the hands-on support I needed to learn the material more effectively. Student organizations have also been a gateway to discovering resources I wouldn't have found on my own.
One thing I wish I had known when applying to Cornell is how distinct and close-knit each college truly is. From the outside, it's easy to see Cornell as quite a large university, but what I didn't really understand until I arrived was that choosing CALS meant joining a college with its own tight-knit community and identity. It has shaped my classes, advisors, and my entire academic experience. If I understood that earlier, I would have leaned even more into researching CALS specifically, rather than thinking about Cornell as a whole.
I have been able to find very close friends by participating in clubs and events that are genuinely of interest to me. A lot of this has been through my involvement in student organizations but also through taking the chance of going to a random on-campus event that seems interesting. By going to these events, I've met people with similar interests and been able to take advantage of Cornell's active campus. My advice to any incoming student would be to say yes to things, even when you're not sure what to expect.
My go-to spot is Martha's Cafe on the first floor of MVR. In my first year, I would go every week at the same time and got to be a regular.
I really like taking advantage of the local hiking and walking trails around the town and area and exploring coffee shops nearby, there are a lot of great ones around!
My favorite Cornell memory is from my first year when I went all around campus trying every dining hall. As someone into food, I can really appreciate the effort that goes into every dining hall menu and being able to try them all with an unlimited dining plan my first year was awesome for me.
What inspires me most is the sense that my academics have a purpose beyond the classroom and beyond myself. Involvement at Cornell has a way of making that feel tangible, whether it's contributing to research that could have a real global impact, or just being surrounded by professors and other students who are doing genuinely cutting-edge, innovative work every day. For me, knowing that what I study and research can contribute to something larger, whether it's influencing global food policy or advancing our understanding of sustainable food systems is incredibly motivating.
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