Finding My Community with Cornell POST
Starting college can be intimidating. Before arriving at Cornell, I was excited about the opportunities ahead, but I was also nervous. Coming all the way from Texas, I wondered if I would make friends, find my place on campus, and adjust to this completely new environment. Looking back, one of the best decisions I made before my first year was participating in Cornell's Pre-Orientation Service Trip (POST) program.
When I signed up for POST, I expected to spend a few days volunteering in the Ithaca community. What I didn't expect was how quickly the people around me would become some of my closest friends and biggest supporters during my transition to college.
Before classes, club fairs, and orientation activities began, I had the chance to meet other incoming students who were experiencing the same mix of excitement and uncertainty that I was. There was something comforting about being surrounded by people who understood exactly how I felt. We spent our days working together at local service sites throughout the Ithaca area and our evenings getting to know one another through conversations, shared meals, and group activities.
The friendships formed through POST felt different because they developed so naturally. Instead of meeting someone briefly during orientation and hoping to stay in touch, we spent several days together navigating a new place, trying new experiences, and learning about one another. By the time move-in day arrived, I no longer felt like I was showing up to campus alone. I already had familiar faces to wave to, people to eat meals with, and friends I could text whenever I had a question or simply wanted company. College felt less overwhelming because I was already connected.
One of my favorite parts of POST was exploring Ithaca together. As a group, we ventured beyond Cornell's campus and got to know the town we would be calling home for the next four years. Whether we were visiting local businesses, volunteering with nearby Ithacan organizations, or simply spending time together after a day of service, each experience helped us grow closer as a community.
Even now, some of the people I met during those few days remain among my closest friends. We supported each other through the challenges of our first semester, celebrated successes together, and continued to build memories long after POST ended. And now, I even have the chance to serve as POST leaders beside them!
When people ask me about my favorite part of starting at Cornell, I often think back to those days before orientation. POST was more than a service program—it was the foundation of my Cornell experience. It gave me friendships, confidence, and a sense of belonging before classes had even begun.
For anyone feeling nervous about starting college and wondering how they'll find their place, my advice is simple: don't underestimate the power of arriving with a community. For me, POST transformed Cornell from a campus full of strangers into a place that already felt like home.