Around the Horn

Under a pleasant April sunset, the Class of 2009 kicked off their Senior Class celebration with a reception at the Johnson Museum.  A group of 600 Seniors gathered in the lobby for some catching up, hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and open access to the museum exhibits.  However, no Senior Sendoff is complete without a champagne toast–not just a nod to our many 21st birthday celebrations in the past year–from our lovely President David Skorton.  The mood was a lot more subdued and nostalgic than College Ave. on a Saturday night, and Skorton’s somber yet hopeful speech appropriately reflected what many of us will face in a month.  While I count my blessings everyday that I have something lined up after graduation, some of my friends are still on the lookout for jobs.  It’s a tough time to be a recent college grad, but knowing that we have a strong and extensive Cornell network behind our backs is reassuring, a reminder that we still have time to figure things (read: life) out, and that everything does come together in the end.

Skorton thanked the Class of 2009 for inviting him to the reception, mentioning that a perk of the job was being able to toast the outgoing Senior Classes each year.  Someone in the crowd then smartly retorted that another perk is the “sweet parking spot” right outside Day Hall, to which Skorton admitted in good spirits.

Cheers!

In my last week as a full-time college student, I’ve wandered around Memory Lane a little too long.  Blame it on the holiday season, where everyone turns into a lovey-dovey nostalgic sap.  I spent all of Black Friday sprawled on a couch watching “Family Man” and “Sleepless in Seattle”; what did you do?

All kidding aside, it hit me oh-so-slightly this past week that I am no longer sheltered from the cold blasts of the real world.  On the bright side, I won’t have to write any more papers or stress out about prelims and exams.  On the darker side…it’s just me now.  As a fully-autonomous adult, I won’t really have an excuse to party late into Thursday night and get away with having $45.07 in my checking account.

Most of all, I won’t stop hearing the dreaded “so how’s your love life?” question.  Yes, even after 21 years, I have yet to claim that I’ve been in a solid relationship.  After evaluating my lifetime drought, I can attribute my chronic singledom to the educational environment.  No, I’m not talking about my parents, as they were the most lax parents in high school (”Just try your best, honey” was all the encouragement I needed).  It’s the pressure to fend for yourself, to work towards a successful career.  In college, I really had no desire to settle down with anyone.  I’m an independent woman blazing my own trail; if you don’t like it, move on, because I won’t wait or change…I think this go-get-em’-ness has scared guys away.  I’m blunt, but I don’t fawn over guys.  I’ll be successful in my own right, and I don’t want to be anyone’s sugarmama.  However, I’m realizing more and more that companionship is important.  While I can support myself just fine, dinner is never fun when you’re eating alone.

Me: “I’m just having fears of a single me at 45 living on the Upper West Side with 20 cats that I’m allergic to.  That’s got to be the worst case scenario…right?”
My gay husband: “Yea but Upper West Side…I wouldn’t mind that.”
Me: “Shut up, you’re not helping.”

Kappa Delta held its Date Night at the Johnson Museum, one of my favorite spots on campus.  This is a great way for our sorority to explore Cornell instead of just having a social schedule consisting of formals and crush parties off campus.  And unlike last year, where we had the 6th floor conference room to enjoy the foggy-windowed panorama of Ithaca, we were allowed to walk around the downstairs exhibits this year.  So, how about those pre-Colombian clay pots?
While I try to visit the museum when I can, I was surprised to hear that a handful of sisters (and their dates) had never stepped into the museum.  Other than the temporary exhibits (which we had access to), the Johnson has a expansive collection of permanent works that it rotates on a regular basis.  And again, the AWESOME 5th floor view is something worth checking out.

Everyone who is majoring in a business/economics-related field is participating in the rat race to score a summer internship at an investment bank in New York City. Cornell’s Career Services Center is in charge of on-campus recruiting, organizing resume drops and interview schedules for investment banks. My goal was to get one offer for the summer, so I dropped my resume and crossed my fingers. Hey, as Wayne Gretsky once said, you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, right?

The interview and hiring process is cutthroat. Just at Cornell, 300 resumes can be submitted, a firm may only interview around 25 students, and then extend offers to 4 students. Multiply 300 by the number of schools recruiters visit…and that’s a lot of competition for these jobs. I decide to focus my efforts on getting an internship in Sales and Trading; I end up getting a couple of interviews. However, the hardest part now is landing the job. Everyone is qualified, so first impressions are everything, since you have 30 minutes to convince the interviewers that you deserve the job. This means being super prepared, understanding yourself as a person, the firm, and the world of finance.

The night before one of my interviews, I had talked to one rep (let’s call him Guy) at a pre-interview event. Networking and increasing face time with the interviewers helps, and can sometimes tip the scale between yes/no for a candidate. I’m a true believer in fate and luck (I usually don’t have any), because the next day at Barnes Hall (Career Center), who do I see at the doorway? Guy, who turns out to be my interviewer! The other interviewer is another Cornell grad who’s an energy trader (Guy’s in sales). We shuffle into the 10-square-foot interview room, I sit down in my seat. “Here’s my card,” the trader says, “…and here’s mine,” Guy follows. My palms start sweating. Here we go.

The interview is very technical, walked right into that one, being an econ major. However, something about this interview just clicked. I’m comfortable, answering questions, in control. The best part is the “brainteaser”. If a clock shows 3:15 as the time, what is the angle between the hour and minute hand? I nail it (7.5 degrees), but the answer doesn’t really matter: interviewers just want to see your thought process and quick quantitative skillz…and that’s that. The interviewers say they’ll keep in touch and let me know ASAP. I run home–have to catch my flight–and email thank you letters.

While stuck in LaGuardia airport on my way to Memphis, an unknown number calls my phone. Crap. I pick it up, and it’s none other than Guy:
“How’s it going?”
“Uh…ehh…uh…good. I’m at La Guardia right now, stuck between flights.” (real smooth.)
“Well hopefully you get out okay. I wanted to call you on behalf of Firm X and extend an offer…” (I don’t remember the rest of what he says because I literally PIDDLE MY PANTS in those 3 seconds. I was expecting that if I got a good call, it would be a pass to Round 2 of interviews.)

I GOT A JOB OFFER. BLOOD IS TINGLING. HOLY MACKERAL AND TUNA AND BASS. Guy, clearly noticing that I am speechless, tries to guide me, letting me know that I can either accept the offer on the spot or give a decision later. “…um….Thank you…wow…um…” Yep. I’m at a complete loss for words. And now Guy is rethinking if the offer was valid or not (you speak-ah English?). I tell him that I have another interview on Monday so I couldn’t give him an answer on the spot, but I would let him know ASAP when I made my decision. Hang up, immediately call Mommy Lin, who screams around the house (exaggeration) and hangs up to immediately to call Daddy Lin. I call my housemates, call my friends. I feel like Charlie Bucket, alone with the golden ticket. I want to scream at the top of my lungs, but that would have most likely been met with dubious stares and security officers. All the time spent perfecting the cover letter, the resume, interviewing, was worth it.

See you in NYC this summer!

Got this in the mail the other day…

My favorite magazine, hands down, is Vanity Fair. Maybe not the most reliable source on world news, but this is definitely much better than the National Enquirer or Star. To give it credit, Vanity Fair does have some interesting articles that cover a wide spectrum of topics. One issue last year highlighted the lightning-speed development of Dubai, and now this month, we get a sneak-peek into the life of Julia Roberts. There are political commentaries, funny cartoons, interviews, and great candid photos of the social elite. The magazine always seems to get the “hottest” interviews with celebrities (remember when people thought Suri Cruise was an alien…?), and this L.A. girl needs to stay connected with her hometown in some way, because hanging in Ithaca just won’t cut it.

Some may find that flipping to page 138 to finally see the letter from the editor may be ridiculous, but I LOVE print ads. Yea, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford haute couture, and right now, the last thing I’m thinking about is Louis and Prada, but I really do enjoy looking at the style and artistic merit with some of the ads. And, you know about some advertising campaigns that are always hyped up? (The Disneyworld ads with David Beckham as Prince Phillip, Scarlet as Cinderella, etc.?) Those always pop up in Vanity Fair, so you’ll always have a copy to yourself instead of trying to steal a billboard. Not that I would encourage that.

However, the best thing that I look forward to when receiving my subscription? My roommate Cathleen is the most baller chick and gave me a subscription for Christmas, leaving out one minor detail. I can only imagine the looks/thoughts of the postmasters when they deliver the magazine to a Jennifer “Bada**” Lin. Classy, eh?

While getting ready for class last week, I passed by Sarah’s room to find her in full power suit and heels mode, getting ready for an on-campus interview. Big-time companies always come this time of year to kick off their full-time recruitment process, and scores of seniors have been steaming their nicest suits, polishing their power heels/shoes, and printing out resumes (on resume paper, please) by the ream.

Cornell does a great job coordinating career fairs (went to that, check), inviting companies to woo students during their presentations, and providing workshops for students wishing to perfect their interviewing/resume skills (”No, nunchuck skills should NOT be listed under Additional Skills…”). However, my dilemma is not “navy suit or black suit”, but finding time to go to these puppies. Most of these companies present at the Statler from 4:30ish to around 8:00ish, which is when I’m on the lake for practice.

Two weeks ago, one of those big companies decided to reach out to the student-athlete contingent and kick-off their summer intern recruiting process with a breakfast. The invitation was sent out to student-athletes with any potential interest in finance/business,”a casual meet and greet with some representatives of the company”. Working hard 6 times a week does have its advantages, I must say.

The breakfast provided me with a lot of schmoozing insight. While casual attire for the average college student would be a t-shirt and jeans, the event was clearly not casual, with both guys and girls busting out business casual slacks and shirts. Thank goodness I opted for pressed khakis and an oxford shirt. As I now know, “representatives of the company” could range from a new analyst or the “Cornell Ambassador” of said company, aka the one who can decide your corporate life in a second. It’s a big surprise to find out, especially while you’re in mid-sip of a glass of orange juice. Yep, that didn’t stay too well up my nose…

After the presentation, I had a whirlwind schedule of classes and was hitting myself in the head for not bringing an extra change of clothes. Who likes peeling off khakis? Finally, heels are your frenemies, like Paris and Lindsay. While walking down Dryden, you look hot, your legs are looking good, that guy from econ is checking you out. And then you’ll face plant.

Finals came and went: Econ was a DOOZIE, that pretty much sums up the most eventful part of Finals.

Sprints came and went: Got some silver hardware, the race was one of the best (and closest) I have ever coxed.

Boys came and went too: See following entry.

I’m back home in California. Still jobless, still internshipless. I’ve been searching since March; now a good two months and 15 phone interviews later, I am still looking for a bite. I’m not sure if it is because I sound intimidating on the phone, or if I’m just not qualified, but it is rather discouraging to not receive an offer from the other end. I’m trying not to take the rejections (or lack of correspondence) personally, but if I could just get some feedback, that would give me a better sense of closure.

I ran into my town’s Board of Education President on Saturday, who invited me to a special event in honor of his friend. I thought, why not? The event was at the Regency Club in Westwood, I could have the opportunity to network with people and get out of the house. I showed up for the event with my friend Carolyn. When we were led to the 17th floor and saw all the suits and well-dressed people schmoozing, we knew this wasn’t your average meet and greet hour. So this friend turned out to be Bill Richardson, who yesterday announced his intention to run for the Presidency. The cocktail hour was held to honor his faithful Los Angeles supporters, many of whom are very well-known in the entertainment industry (I was too chicken to approach Jodie Foster). Talk about friends in high places. And while I don’t have any immediate desire to enter politics, I found it a good opportunity to, well, meet the Governor of New Mexico, and others.

Well, I guess it’s my time to say adieu for a few months. Thanks to everyone who made this project possible (hck1, I know you’re reading this), who supported the 6 bloggers (Mr. Bruce, among others), and who responded to the bloggers. We’ll be refreshed and back in action in August.

When I told my coach Chris that I had to miss Saturday practice for a sorority conference, all she asked was, “did you remember to pack your ribbons and pearls?”

On Friday, I woke up at the crack of dawn along with my Kappa Delta sisters Courtney and Beth to drive to Syracuse and head on over to Memphis, Tennessee, Home of the Blues and the Birthplace of Rock and Roll. As much as I would have loved to chill out and soak up some Memphis nightlife, we were there for another purpose: to represent our KD chapter at the Presidents and Emerging Leaders conference. This conference is one of the few times during the year where KDs from around the nation can meet, commiserate, network, what have you. At this conference, KD also held a bundle of workshops and seminars to help guide the president and emerging leader of each chapter.

As the acting president of the chapter (Julie had a conflict over the weekend, and also happens to be antsy about planes), I got to meet all the other presidents of each chapter. There were lots of ideas swapped, lots of jingle/jangle jewelry, lots of small talk, lots of high heels and makeup–it was to be expected. What came out of left field was realizing how different Greek Life is on different campuses. First off, Kappa Delta is present in the Northeast and West coasts and DOMINANT in the Midwest/South regions. Most of the girls I met were from Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, although I also did meet wonderful ladies from North Dakota and Idaho as well. About 30% of students are involved in Greek Life here at Cornell, but it does not control the campus scene here. In other schools, especially in the South, being in a sorority/fraternity is a way of life, it controls almost every part of one’s day. Here at Cornell, we have 12 sororities, 40-something fraternities, and a bunch of multicultural fraternities and sororities. Other schools with have 3-4 of each, and every time I mentioned the sheer number of houses Cornell has on campus, jaws would drop. I guess 42 is a big number? Even though every chapter is so different from the next, we are all connected through the bonds of Kappa Delta…(I can’t believe I just typed that) It’s an eerie feeling, knowing that all the girls sitting around you have also gone through the same new member period, know the same cheers/songs, and follow the same traditions.

So, things I picked up from this trip? A better Southern accent, Kappa Delta gear/accessories, a few email addresses, and a refreshed outlook on KD. Oh, I also got to take a picture with the National President of KD, Bonnie Purvis Warren. And, for the record, pearls were popular at the event, but not so much ribbons. Ya’ll have no idea how rampant Vera Bradley prints were at the conference, though.

Me, Courtney, Beth representing Omega Chi chapter!

There are many things to look forward to when you’re on an athletics team. Cool uniforms/gear, awesome teammates, state-of-the-art facilities, and of course, the annual phone-a-thon. The annual phone-a-thon is one of the main resources of income for all three teams (Men’s Heavyweight, Lightweight, and Women’s). Monday was the Rowing Teams’ chance to shine. The phone-a-thon took place in Ives Hall, in a room equipped with 30-some phones. Most of the team showed up at 6:30 in the evening, got a crash course in Phoning101, and was let loose at 7:00 pm to begin calling the east coast. The first few calls were so nervewracking, even though I answer phone calls daily through work.

Many of the calls I made went straight to an answering machine, which was so anticlimactic. I would mentally pump myself up for a caller, think about what I’d have to say, dial the number, and then get “You have reached the (insert name)…”. The few successful calls were to the most supportive and considerate alumni, who were eager to know about the status of the team and what to expect for the spring season. It was so interesting to hear the alumni’s stories and share your experience with someone “who was there” and appreciates the time and effort each teammate puts in each season. Plus, there are monetary benefits in the end, and we managed to raise over $65,000 for all three crews. Not too shabby.

Other than my almost-x-rated hoarse and deep voice, I’d say the phone-a-thon went off without a hitch. The x-rated voice is still here though, not sure when that’ll leave.

*As a precursor to the first comment by Lisa* Actually a pretty funny story, albeit VERY embarrassing on my part.
Me: (after being asked if attending the Shimon Peres event) “Oh, definitely.”
Lisa: “Okay, great.”
Me: “By the way, what type of music does he play?”
Lisa: “Uhm…he’s the former Israeli Prime Minister.”
Me: “Oh…well goes to show you how much I know about world issues.”
Lisa: *rolls eyes*

Cornell was invaded by SWAT trucks, a 10-car motorcade, and dozens of Secret Service agents. Shimon Peres visited our campus on Tuesday to give a talk about his view on the current situations in Israel and the Middle East. As the former Prime Minister of Israel and the current Vice Premier, Shimon has been a key player in Israel politics and international relations. I went with my friend Hannah and fellow blogger Alex to see Shimon speak at Bailey Hall. The event was completely sold out, and we lined up an hour and a half before the talk to get good seats, after going through an extensive security check of course.

It was great to actually connect concepts I’ve picked up in my International Relations class with good ol’ Peter Katzenstein. Peres talked about the current global situation, how a nation’s power is largely determined by its economic power. PK has mentioned numerous times the reality that multination corporations are running the international stageshow. The empires of today are not so much reduxes of Rome, but rather founded on a company’s success in harnessing the future through science and technology–think Google.

Peres offered positive words to the university, supporting our many ongoing projects in space, nanotechnology, and the like. I don’t blame him: I wouldn’t mind seeing a country run by Cornellians.