Diversity or Ignoring Our Needs October 31, 2009
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Recently, all I can see in the Daily Sun and talk about with friends is the protesting over the removal of Ken Glover and different minority organizations not getting their voices heard. While I did have an afro, my militant days are far over and right now my main concern is graduating and getting a job, this is the year to be a little bit more selfish.
As far as what has been happening on campus, it’s definitely been a trickling down effect:
- The first event was the removal of Ujamaa Residential Housing Director Ken Glover from Ujamaa to High Rise 5. Students and even Mr. Glover wasn’t given advance notice about the relocation and to be honest, Mr. Glover is Uj! He has been working for Ujamaa for over 20 years. Literally generations of Cornellians involved with program houses know Mr. Glover, so to have a sudden removal was a deep cut to the minority community.
- Students first protested, and Mr. Glover was given an extension of an another year at Uj, but he still was going to move to High Rise in 2010-2011.
- Students still protested, talked to everyone who is anyone at Cornell and still received the same answer, NO. Susan Murphy, David Skorton, those within the office of housing, to no avail.
- Pretty much hasn’t changed then, but still students are willing to protest. They protested during Cornell Homecoming to gain attention, and trustee meeting weekend to address
* Picture from Cornell Daily Sun article, A call for right.
I understand the cries of the minority community, because we are facing an epoch at Cornell. While we recently let in the most diverse class in terms of racial background for the freshman class, we are starting to face shrinking resources for minorities: Office of Minority Educational Affairs is currently understaffed, program houses are reaching new lows as far as application process, the Asian American Center brought about last year has a small budget of about 5,000, and with the budget cuts it might get worse. The thing is it also matches a trend I’m starting to recognize over the years, minority students aren’t really interested in this minority program. Minority organizations are facing shrinking membership, even with the Minority Business Student Association we don’t know how to increase our attendance for our meetings.
Whatever happens I hope it’s in the best for the school, because I know when I was a freshman while I did live in High Rise interacting with alot of different people. It made me more comfortable about being at Cornell to know I had a community similar to the one I grew up.
The toughest class of my Cornell career October 14, 2009
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I am actually being quite legitimate by saying the toughest class I have ever experienced since I have been at Cornell decided to rear its ugly head during fall semester of senior year. Maybe it’s tough for a lot of reason, the external fact that looking for a full-time job is like a 16 credit course or the fact I walk every Fishbowl Wednesday and Thirsty Thursday night slowly back home, because I am exhausted studying for this classes exams. It could be a lot of reasons, but this class is tough.
It’s my finance class and I made the mistake of taking this class senior year namely because I had no other option unless I didn’t want to study abroad. It’s well known through AEM this class is the tough part of the major. It’s tough for a lot of reasons and my senioritis and lack of concern has only created a worse situation.
The professor is the epitome of investment banker/ hard finance workers. One night while working on stats at 2am I saw him just walking out of his office, slaving the night away apparently. He is very OD about punctuality and certain etiquette. During our first section, after two minutes since the class started he proceeded to lock the doors from the outside, so if you decided make the trek all the way to night class at 7:30pm and arrived two minutes late to no avail you just wasted alot of energy walking to a class you clearly aren’t going to attend. As a senior, it’s a bad combination of me not wanting to work hard and he being a stickler for just about everything.
It seems every class seems to be an adventure for me despite the fact it’s a class of over a couple hundred. On more than occasion, I was awaken during class with a smile and probing question from the professor. Usually, I make an educated guess which is correct and only validates my sleep patterns during class. Even tonight, my cell phone was ringing and he proceeded to answer my phone. However, I luckily hung up the call before I gave him the phone. I don’t even understand I’m not that bad of a student but for this class I continue to be a bad boy for no reason.
All I can do is try to sleep during another class and come back refreshed for this one!!!!
The Big 21! September 30, 2009
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Sept. 28, 2009 was an epic day in my life, it was my 21st birthday and I was more than happy to celebrate my new found freedom. The thing about a 21st birthday is it’s really the last threshold; at 13 you become a teenager and you develop these natural tendencies to rebel about everything and figure out your parents are annoying, at 18 you feel like you are officially a man but in reality you’re not because all you can do now is buy lotto tickets and smoke cigarettes, but 21……..21 is the age where you can finally feel grown and walk into a bar with your head held high, because you know this is your ID and you can drink whatever you want.
While the birthday didn’t have the greatest start (having an interview and then an Accounting for Mergers & Acquisitions test doesn’t exactly scream wild and crazy 21, it ended up well with a random surprise of me receiving 21 cupcakes from Ithaca Bakery in the middle of my Business Statistics class thanks to Mom and Dad, even across the country they still embarrass me in front of everyone. I also tried the new Five Guys burger joint, because it was a random night for celebration.
I capped the night off with a trip to Ruloff’s a good bar/restaurant in Collegetown named after a killer in Ithaca whose brain is preserved at Cornell University. Great name right?!?!
Here’s a pictured of his preserved brain!
The drink of choice for the night:
Electric Gatorade
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1/2 shot(s) |
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1/2 shot(s) |
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1/2 shot(s) |
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1/2 shot(s) |
Melon Liqueur |
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1/2 shot(s) |
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Fill glass |
Sour Mix |
There you go, not exactly the craziest 21st birthday, but a fun one nonetheless. I will wait until the weekend to really enjoy my new found freedom.
Random Walk Back Home September 17, 2009
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Cornell’s campus is huge, and I live in Collegetown, which is basically the opposite side of where I have class in the Ag quad. It’s about a 20-25 minute walk in the morning and the evening. Typically in the evening, I use it as an opportunity to think about random thoughts. I decided to post some of my random thoughts:
Man, this campus is empty at 10:30pm. I start to whistle the star wars theme song. Why do I suck at whistling so much?
Walking past the math library, I look in to see people working in an office on the computer. They are probably math or physics majors whose night has just begun while I go to sleep, exhausted from having to think for three hours.
I left early from a three-hour finance review session, God my life sucks I can’t wait until I’m done with school so then after work I can go to happy hours and hit on chicks.
Looking for a full-time job is like a six-credit course, between the career fair, information sessions, interviews, and the preparation of making cover letters/resumes I easily spend most of time now looking for a job that I like. I don’t know how much longer I can handle the ’schmoozing’ aspect of this job search of trying to get the job. People’s job advice sounds alot like prostitution, “Sell yourself”, “Always have an open face so you seem interested”, “IB pays more, but you will be working longer hours”.
By now, I’ve entered into Collegetown. The only thought running through my mind is I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL I’M 21 THEN I’M GOING TO ALL THESE BARS!
And there you have it, you now have a better idea of the pressing issues that come to mind when I walk home.
BOLD takes over Camp Gregory September 7, 2009
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As I have mentioned in previous posts, I participate in the AEM BOLD program, a program predicated to preparing outstanding students for their upcoming leadership roles in corporate America. This past weekend as part of the BOLD program, the 20 students in the program were removed from the distractions of campus and moved to camp Gregory to spend some time understanding our passions/drives and getting to know each other a little bit better. The weekend was a success and I had a lot of fun hanging out with the other BOLD fellows and just getting away temporarily from all the distractions Cornell offers.
I just wanted to share one of the introspective mantras I developed while having all these discussions about vision and how I envision the world in the future and my impact on it.
“I envision a world where cultural differences aren’t criticized, and having a firm belief in one’s cultural identity is not received with eyes of worry and images of extreme militants, but rather curious eyes of interest. I envision a world where opportunity isn’t a family-inherited right, but instead a reflection of a person’s God-given abilities maximized to its fullest potential. I envision a world where I can be successful and still be part of the community I grew up with and want to uplift to its greatest heights. Most importantly, I envision a world where my first reaction to a decision is it’s impossible, but rather I alone with sound conviction and no hesitation can make things possible. When I am lying lame of old age, I want to have this lasting thought impressed in my brain, I was given every opportunity to experience fulfillment in all my endeavors and while I have made mistakes along the way, what provided me the greatest satisfaction was those opportunities; opportunities to spark new friendships and build upon the old, opportunities to experience that tight feeling in the gut that comes along with the feeling of excitement because of a new challenge, and most importantly the opportunities to develop faith, the evidence of things not seen.”
This paragraph reflects my dreams and my passions, and I hope gives a better idea of how I hope to impact my future.
A Widespread Disease Crippling Our Society September 2, 2009
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I finally understand what senioritis is because I have seen/experienced all the symptoms:
Tiredness/Drowsiness- all through the day, you spend time thinking about how awesome it would be to leave class, go back to the apartment, and take a nap
Depression- realizing you need to find a job and figure out the question everyone seems to ask, “So what are you going to do after graduation ?” or even worse hearing in every AEM class, “this is the worse job market in 50 years, blah, blah, blah….”
Weight Gain- I haven’t personally experienced because I lost a ton of weight in China and gained some back while in America so it evened out, but a lot of my senior companions look like they used the summer as an opportunity to experience the 8-to-5 non-active lifestyle
Delusion- I am still in disbelief that classes have started, so much so I have only bought two course packets for the six classes I am currently enrolled in. I really believe school is starting soon, just not yet so I have all the time in the world.
Anger- Why am I in this class when clearly I’m not going to be talking about dinosaurs at one of my work meetings? Why am I taking so many credits? Why can’t I party on a Tuesday night? Why do I have night sections that’s my scheduled laying down on the couch time. I hate school, I hate looking for jobs, I hate my life!
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, the most likely remedy you will receive are those disappointing first round of prelims grades. That always bounces me back into shape!
Mmmmmmm sucky prelim grades, goes down so easy!
Senior Year August 30, 2009
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Wow, I’m finally a senior. These past three years have gone entirely too fast and I’m not prepared to give up the late night hanging out, partying, and mid-afternoon naps for the 8-to-5 lifestyle of adulthood. In many ways, I still feel like a kid; I still play Madden Football all day and lay out and enjoy the sunshine while laying down enjoying jello or a slurpee.
I look at the freshman and I can’t help but laugh, because they have no idea what they got into when they got into Cornell. Walking around North campus, hearing all the freshman take about their AP credits and all the activities they were involved in high school while still maintaining a 4.0GPA and being top of their class. It’s so cute because I remember when I was like thinking I could do everything at once like I did in high school, but Cornell is a harsh mistress that slaps with a cold slap of reality. You are facing the top of the class of high schools around the world here at Cornell, so the level of intensity is a clear notch above high school. Freshman year, I quickly realized I can’t do everything at once, which helped me realize what I really wanted to do with my life and set my priorities.
This is what senior citizens must feel like when they see their grandchildren running around carefree, because while you are a little bit older you know most likely their experience is going to be similar to yours and with a smile, you know they are going to enjoy their freshman year at Cornell just like you did. I still try to impart my advice to any freshman I meet, but you know they won’t listen; young people just don’t have any sense nowadays as my grandmother used to tell me.
As I go into my senior year, I am nostalgic about my previous three years at Cornell and very grateful for seeing all the faces of the underclassmen I have impacted as they get older and figure out their life plans. I can’t help but smile when I think about my soon to be alma mater of Cornell, it is literally been my wife for the past three it’s seen my ups and my downs, made me cry and laugh, and even given me bad gas at times (thanks chili at RPCC), but I still will stick with it anytime.
Abraham Lincoln Had Swag August 15, 2009
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The most important lessons in life aren’t always taught in the classroom, and today proved to be an example of learning outside the classroom during this weekend attending the Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) conference. This is our last meeting of the year-long program where MLT develops minority students to adjust to everyday rigor of working in corporate America. One of the workshops was the idea of SWAG and how the greatest leaders/innovaters were ones with swag; be it the self-appointed king of rap Jay-Z and his proclaimed heir Lil’ Wayne, Warren Buffet, Abraham Lincoln, and of the course the presidential couple of Mr./Mrs. Obama. The point of the workshop was bringing out the self-confidence reservoir that so many influential people continue to have with their career aspirations. With the case of Abraham Lincoln, he stands as the leader of swag, because not only he was the youngest president, but he was elected despite his lack of experience in political office with his only leadership experience was running a two-man legal office. Now that is swag to be able to convince others of your potential and success.The same needs to apply for my professional career, I need the professional swag were everyone in the office considers me a leader and there go-to-person. As quoted from our presentation and Jay Z, “Go Further, Go Harder, If Not Why Bother.” I have to continue my push to have show my professional swagger.
Obama turned his swag on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Living Out His Fat Boy Fantasies July 21, 2009
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I approximately ate 2.5lbs of beef in one sitting and probably lost a month of my life span, can you say the same thing?
Being back in America and especially having more money than usual due to the internship gives me alot more opportunity to experience dining out and trying out new restaurants while working. Besides the happy hour appetizers offered by Target headquarters (including a $2.95 Half-Pound Cajun Burger), I have also been able to experience some restaurants closer to the University of Minnesota campus which offer college student prices!!! At a local restaurant called Stubs&Herbs, they have this burger challenge where if they finish this 5 pound burger they will name the burger after you. 5 pounds didn’t sound like much so on a random Saturday I decided to starve myself trying to become a legend at the restaurant. I didn’t bother to do the math..4 Quarter Pounds=1 Pound *5 Pounds in This Burger=20 Quarter Pounders from McDonalds. Being a typical, arrogant Cornellian who feels he can accomplish anything I attempted to conquer this burger along with my roommate in a Target intern burger challenge. Just to give you an idea of how ridiculous this burger, I of course took pictures.
When it first came out it didn’t look too intimidating, but when I took the first bite where I was literally drinking grease I knew I was going to die! I made it halfway and by then I was done about ready to throw it all up and officially become a vegetarian. The next two days I couldn’t even look at beef, because of this monster burger.
Here’s a picture of my roommate with the burger compared with a regular sized one to put it in perspective.
Big Man In A Small City July 12, 2009
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Typical conversation with my family and friends when I talk about working in Target.
Friends/Family: What you doing this summer? Any internships?
Me: Yes, I’m working for Target!
Friends/Family: Ugh, like in a store? Are you stacking boxes or something?
Me: No, I’m working for Target Corporate Headquarters in Merchandise Planning as a Business Analyst.
Friends/Family: Oh that sounds really cool, so where is their headquarters?
Me: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Friends/Family: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh, who goes to Minneapolis? Have fun being in the middle of nowhere. That’s so weird, why do you want to work in Minneapolis?
Me: I don’t really care where I live, it seems like a cool job and I heard Minneapolis has alot of young professionals
Friends/Family: Have fun with that you are going to get bored in like two days. You can go to the Mall of America and a Twins/Vikings game and that’s about all Minneapolis can offer.
Reviewing over these conversations makes me think I have really terrible friends that are some haters because if I’m not working in New York City I’m pegged for failure. It’s been about four weeks since the start of my internship and I just wanted to prove my friends wrong by going over some of the social activities I can do while in Minnesota that keeps me pretty occupied.
The first picture is a picture of a neighborhood known as Dinkytown (I know terrible name doesn’t exactly attract celebrities) in the front with the Kitty Cat Klub which is the best name for a bar I have ever heard. It has alot of bars for happy hour fun, and every Friday/Saturday one of the local restaurants host a salsa night where I am a frequent visitor where they play alot of salsa and raggaeton.
Next of me at the Taste of Minnesota, a concert series which had headliners such as Judas Priest and Bret Michaels. I was enjoying a footlong corn dog. Good Eats!
This is a picture of Lake Calhoun. Weird fact about Minnesota people when they call the lake the beach, which to a person from California makes no apparent sense because I associate beaches with the ocean which Minnesota isn’t located next to the beach last time I checked. I guess they don’t know better.
I could go on and on…..maybe but I was just trying to prove a point that Minnesota has more to offer than meets the eye you just have to dive a little deeper than say L.A. or New York. I’m still enjoying my time here.