Dairy Bar Daydream

One of the greatest aspects about Cornell is the initiative to bring great guest lecturers to campus! This past week, I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by the 2011 National Teacher of the Year.  Michelle Shearer is an AP Chemistry and AP Physics teacher from Maryland and has spent the last year traveling across the world advocating for the teaching profession.  While Michelle shared many wonderful examples and ideas with our teacher education program students, the most important lesson I took away from her lecture was that teaching should not be someone’s back-up plan.  In the United States, teachers were once revered and respected-so much so that in colonial times it was an honor to host the town’s teacher in your home.  Today, however, teaching is often looked upon as an ‘easy profession.’  I’ve heard it countless times during my time at Cornell: ‘You came to Cornell just so you could be a teacher?’ or the statement that gets me fired up most, “If I don’t get that job, at least I can always be a teacher as a back-up plan!”  Michelle explained how she had wanted to be a teacher ever since middle school; and how to this day she continues to hear how teaching is a back-up plan.

The title of this post is someone’s attempt to sum-up teaching in six words; and I think its a great summary.  Teaching is not just about knowing the content of your field.  There a hundreds of brilliant physicists, biologists, and chemists throughout the nation; yet teaching requires relationships and an attitude of dedication to ensuring that each student gets what they need from the classroom environment.  Michelle Shearer was inspiring to listen to and I hope that some day, I can advocate for teaching so that teaching is elevated to a highly sought after career path.

It just hit me: I only have one week of classes (which for me equals 2 days) left for my undergraduate career! While Cornell’s academic calendar may indicate that there are two weeks left, during the last week of finals, I will actually be traveling up to Vernon-Verona-Sherrill with my work study position to help plan and implement a convention for 1000 high school students from across New York state! This also means that I will be missing Slope Day, a giant university-sponsored celebration that we’ve made it through yet another year of classes.

However, before I can start celebrating I have quite a few projects and essays to wrap up.  I have two unit plans which must include at least four lessons each, a 2000-word essay, and a 45-minute workshop to write and present.  I have a lot of work ahead of me but knowing that I only have one more week to go will help me stay focused and avoid the tempting “senioritis”!

So Cornell Days is upon us! For all of the ambassadors on campus that means helping out the accepted students find where they need to go and answer any of their concerns.  One family stopped and asked about the food science program.  Without a second thought I launched into an explanation of our introductory food science class where students work in teams to develop a new ice cream flavor which is then featured at our Dairy Bar for the next semester.  I even shared how one of the recipes was bought by a major ice cream company! As the family walked away, the other ambassador with me, turns and says, “You really know your facts! But I guess that comes with the territory when you’re a senior.”

Now I don’t know if the underclassman meant to imply it, however that comment made me feel old! And I’m just 21; I’m too young to feel old!

Recently I met with some of the Membership Candidates who are pledging the sorority I’m in (Sigma Alpha Professional Agriculture Sorority) and one girl asked, “What song describes your life?” Yeah, try answering that one! For someone who really enjoys music and singing even though I’m no longer in a choir, picking one song to describe my life is tough.  In the end I chose “It’s Your Life” by Francesca Battistelli.  This song has special meaning to me since this was the song I chose to walk into when I retired as a New York FFA State Officer; however I also think this song is a great reminder that YOU control your life.  Other people don’t define you and other people’s decisions might affect you but ultimately we are each responsible for our own lives.

It’s really easy to forget that, especially when we don’t get the outcome we want in a class or on a test.  It’s easy to say, “That test was so unfair” or “the professor never went over the material” and while all of that might be true, it’s important to realize that it’s your life and while all of those things might be true, could you have studied more or attended that study session the professor held? That’s why this song describes my life.  It reminds me to stop and reflect before I start blaming or judging myself for my shortcomings and others! So yes, I’m up to my eyeballs in work for the next few weeks because I got behind.  Was it worth it? Absolutely.  I’m a little behind because I took time to go home and surprise my family and friends with a much needed visit.  It was my choice to make and it’s one that I’m very thankful I did!

I had a wonderful Easter going to church, coloring Easter eggs, and getting many of the chores done that I’ve been putting off for the past few weeks! While I wish I would have had time last week to color eggs and sit down to enjoy the experience, coloring eggs is a very convenient task to pair with making sure all of my chores were accomplished.  I put the eggs into the dye (after a quick trip to Tops since I forgot to buy white vinegar to include in the dye) and then went and folded my laundry.  When I came back, I had beautifully colored eggs, which I then topped off with my wonderful Disney stickers that came with my “Oliver and Company” DVD!

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While March went out like a lion, April is coming on strong at Cornell too! As a senior, I have 28 days of classes left, 10 days of finals, and 49 days left until commencement! I’m continuously shocked when I remember that my time as an undergraduate is fading fast.  I still feel like I have so much left to accomplish here: so many classes I want to take, so many events that I can’t wait to take part in, and most of all so many friends that I’m not ready to leave!  Here’s hoping that the days slow down a bit so I can bask in my last month as a senior.