Alex D.
Throughout my time here, I have felt inspired by the other Sophomore Linguistics students as they are all also deeply interested in this subject and have presented many interested facts during lecture. Through this, we have been able to learn more about each other's interests and what we want to explore in Linguistics and pursue during our undergraduate experience.
My favorite class is LING 4401 (Phonology I) because it provided me with an excellent introduction to the theoretical aspects of Phonology. While I found this class to be incredibly challenging, this was a very rewarding class for me as I got the opportunity to analyze the phonology patterns in Luxembourgish for the final project and really dive into the complications of the language and ask questions about why certain phenomena occur.
The vast array of opportunities makes Cornell super unique, as it has helped me really develop in my academic and social abilities during my time here. Through being a part of many vibrant communities, such as Risley, On Tap, and UnderLings, while also being super focused in my classes, I have been able to manage my studies while also maintaining strong relationships with my friends. While I can feel stressed during exam season, I always know that there are also opportunities to relax and laugh with my friends, which has really helped me push through difficult and demanding situations.
While I am not completely certain yet, one of my top possibilities would be to attend graduate school as I do enjoy pursuing research and would like to continue doing so at a high level.
My favorite place to study is Libe Cafe in Olin Library, as it provides me with a relaxing and comfortable study experience that can help me stay focused on getting my work done.
Arts & Sciences really allows me to explore a variety of different subjects and find the perfect fit for me. Having interests in both Computer Science and Linguistics, I definitely wanted to pursue a balance between both of these subjects and see how I can integrate the two cohesively through a double major.
I really enjoy working through Linguistics problems and seeing the types of ambiguity and uncertainty observed in the data. One thing about Linguistics that really attracted me was the questions that certain datasets can pose and figuring out possible explanations and which ones are most suitable.
On Tap Dance Troupe (Cornell's Tap Dancing Group), UnderLings (Cornell's Undergraduate Linguistics Club), Arts & Sciences Ambassador, and bonobo ape research under Professor Laurent Dubreuil in Humanities Lab, which began through Nexus Scholars Program last summer; Fall '25 CS 1110 (Intro to CS) Consultant (like a mini TA), and Risley Kommittee (Risley's Dorm Council).
My favorite thing is the vast array of opportunities available for connections, both personal and professional. Throughout my first few semesters, I have been amazed by the number of friends I have made through my Linguistics classes, Risley Hall, and my tap dancing group, On Tap Dance Troupe, as well as the academic connections through the Humanities Lab and UnderLings.
My go-to campus resources are the libraries as not only do they provide me with excellent study spaces, but they also provide a vast array of resources for research projects and papers, which are very useful for my higher-level linguistics classes and my current work in the Humanities Lab.
I wish I had known to relax more throughout the academic year so that I could really interact with the fascinating material in classes and think about how it can be applied to the real world. A challenging class that helped me really enjoy the material for what it had to offer was Phonology I, as I got to analyze the complicated phonological patterns in Luxembourgish for my final project. While I was initially stressed about doing a final project, I became more intrigued once I saw the different phonological alternations and thus kept on trying to think of different possibilities as to why they occurred. Though incredibly difficult, this experience taught me to relax more throughout my experience here because I can learn a lot more through this and really understand the material.
I found my friends and community through the weekly events held at Risley Hall, as well as through my clubs, in particular On Tap Dance Troupe and UnderLings. In particular, On Tap has helped my truly feel part of a dance community as I have closely bonded with so many unique dancers here through cheering each other on during our annual show, as well as working with some during my small group choreography rehearsals. Furthermore, being a part of the UnderLings has allowed me to connect further with other linguistics students and learn more about their passions and what aspects of Linguistics excite them.
I chose Cornell because of its vast array of opportunities, with a central one being the option to double major in both Linguistics and Computer Science at the College of Arts and Sciences. Furthermore, I was really excited by the Nexus Scholars Program and how it can give me insight into the research process. I also wanted to find an undergraduate linguistics community to be a part of, and the Cornell UnderLings was the perfect opportunity for me to do so. Furthermore, I also wanted to continue dancing, as it was a central part of my life prior to Cornell, and the number of incredible dance groups really excited me.
My go-to place to eat is Risley Dining Hall and my favorite item there is the tomato soup. I live in Risley, so it is super convenient and I can always interact with the other Risleyites and engage in some very exciting conversations.
My favorite thing to do in Ithaca is explore the Farmers Market, as there are so many unique items there, and it is such a relaxing environment, especially when going with friends. The apple slushies were definitely a highlight for me, as they helped me cool down in the sunny conditions.
My favorite Cornell memory was participating in the Nexus Scholars Program last summer, as it really provided me with an excellent introduction to research and the skills needed to pursue it. During this time, I worked under Professor Laurent Dubreuil and analyzed how bonobo apes interacted with humans, looking at their gestures and ability to follow commands. In particular, I felt that my organization and responsibility skills massively improved during this time, as there were many exciting tasks that I needed to complete for the project, and staying focused and having a daily plan for what needed to be accomplished really helped me achieve and learn a lot of cool information about bonobos during this program.
My favorite spot on campus is the Dairy Bar as it offers so many unique ice cream flavors and is always a great place to visit at the end of the school year to celebrate an incredible academic year.
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