From Labs to Admissions Ambassador 

Cornell has opened doors I never imagined. Through work study, I joined Dr. Carrie Adler’s lab, where we study planarian flatworms to uncover the molecular and cellular mechanisms of organ regeneration. I oversee their husbandry, assist with general lab tasks, and communicate their health status to researchers. Since day one, Dr. Adler and the graduate students treated me like a colleague, patiently answering my questions, sharing their knowledge, and reminding me that curiosity is always valuable in a lab.  

Additionally, I joined the B.A.B.Y Lab with Dr. Michael Goldstein to study the development of early communication and social learning in early childhood. I help run studies, analyze data, recruit participants, engage in weekly journal reading discussions, manage the lab’s social media, and write blog posts. Yet, beyond the data, it’s the quiet moments — a baby’s laughter during a study, parents engaging wholeheartedly — that have left the deepest impression on me. These experiences have shown me how research is not just about discovery, but about connection, about translating knowledge into something that touches people’s lives. Together, these hands-on opportunities have defined my time at Cornell, deepened my passion for interdisciplinary learning, and helped me realize that my path lies at the intersection of science, human behavior, and medicine.

As an Admissions Ambassador, I help prospective and admitted students explore possibilities in the Cornell community. I contribute to organizing events for Admitted Students Day, virtual programs for answering questions, or high school visits throughout the year. By sharing my own story with future Cornellians and finding places on campus to improve, I have found purpose and fulfillment in supporting others as they begin their journeys.  

Exploring Cornell University

Yet, behind these valuable experiences was a quiet uncertainty. I came to Cornell as a transfer student, expecting that everything would fall into place. Instead, I often felt behind, watching others who seemed to know exactly where they were headed. I was afraid—afraid to step off the path I had committed to, afraid that exploring would be a waste of time.

But over time, I began to realize that the very detours I feared were guiding me to where I was meant to be. Each uncertainty, each pivot, became part of the story that has shaped me into the person I am today. From the very beginning of my time at Cornell, I've been surrounded by support through friends, mentors, professors, and even Ithaca itself.  

Feeling at Home

Of course, Cornell isn’t just about academics. There's a common stereotype that Cornell is isolated — that students do nothing but study. But for me, Cornell has been full of life.  The slopes told a different story every day, offering warmth and comfort as I lay under the sun until sunset. The gorges bring energy and guidance as I take the Cascadilla trail down to the Commons in the early evenings. The campus fills with vibrant life when students gather around Ho Plaza or dance and sing on Slope Day. Seeing tour guides on campus with motivated future students and graduating seniors savoring their last moments at this place they call home. In those quiet, reflective moments, I realized that Cornell had also become my home. These everyday moments made me realize that Cornell is more than just a university. It’s a place where learning spills beyond lecture halls, where growth feels both personal and collective, and where every corner of campus holds a lasting memory.

So, I encourage everyone reading this blog post to explore every corner of Cornell and embrace its beauty, challenges, and surprises.