Welcome to the Big Red community! With the alma mater playing in the background and confetti falling down your screen, I can only imagine what you are feeling right now. Whether that may be excitement, joy, impatience, or perhaps a little bit of nervousness about what comes next, don’t worry: these are all normal! I remember being in your shoes just about a year ago and being ecstatic about the opportunity to attend Cornell (almost falling out of my chair with excitement)!

Now, as I get close to wrapping up my first year as a Cornellian in the College of Arts & Sciences, intending to major in mathematics and minor in education, psychology, and human development, I am so honored to be able to be one of the first few to give you a warm welcome to Cornell on behalf of the Cornell University Diversity Admissions Ambassadors. As you navigate this exciting news, I have a couple of tips I would love to share with you! 

First, take a step back.

Take a moment to breathe and process what just happened. YOU have been accepted to one of the world’s most prestigious undergraduate institutions to embark on a journey of academic growth and personal discovery. YOU have been invited to join a family dedicated to doing the “greatest good” in the beautiful city that is Ithaca.

Now, you might be asking yourself, “Why in the world is Daniel capitalizing ‘YOU’?” I do it to emphasize that this achievement is a result of YOU. Not of luck, but of your hard work, confidence, and commitment to bettering yourself and others.

Then, actively engage!

As you begin to navigate the transition to Cornell, one of the best tips for success I can offer is to actively engage with all the events and resources available. Something that was particularly impactful for me was attending an admitted students’ day (Cornell Days), as I had the opportunity to tour the campus, talk with people from my college about classes and academics, ask many of the questions I had about student life, and try some of the amazing food from Morrison (best pasta on campus!) while also hearing about the stories of other admitted students. Overall, it was a day that made me fall in love with Cornell even more.  

Furthermore, once you move in in August, you’ll participate in O-Week (Orientation Week), which is full of fun events, like the First-Year Carnival and Outdoor Game Night, to help you build friendships with new students and get more connected with the Cornell community. Again, actively engage! Try to attend every single one of the events and don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with people or even your Orientation Leaders, because you never know what may come next (they might even be a future classmate of yours in your Spanish class, who knows?).

Once again, congratulations, Class of 2030! I wish you all the best in your future endeavors, and I look forward to seeing you all this fall! GO BIG RED! 

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