31
March
2007
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!” -Dr. Seuss
Class of 2011 (and a few from 2012) ya’ll know who you are now! You have the opportunity to embark upon an incredible journey. My advice is to seize this chance – take a risk! From Appel Commons to apple orchards, Clocktower Pumpkin to Construction Cookie Crunch, prelims to papers, slope days to swim tests, you have the chance to experience amazing adventures. Trust me, you’ll never imagine where they’ll take you!
So dive in!
(Literally! Don’t worry, the swim test is only three laps. And using a ladder to enter the pool is totally a viable option. Floaty arms not included.)
Posted: Spring 2007
31
March
2007
“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!” -Dr. Seuss
Class of 2011 (and a few from 2012) ya’ll know who you are now! You have the opportunity to embark upon an incredible journey. My advice is to seize this chance – take a risk! From Appel Commons to apple orchards, Clocktower Pumpkin to Construction Cookie Crunch, prelims to papers, slope days to swim tests, you have the chance to experience amazing adventures. Trust me, you’ll never imagine where they’ll take you!
So dive in!
(Literally! Don’t worry, the swim test is only three laps. And using a ladder to enter the pool is totally a viable option. Floaty arms not included.)
Posted: Spring 2007
30
March
2007
“Effective (Ash) Wednesday, February 21, 2007
For the Next 40 Days and 40 Nights, Jason Will Be Nice to Customers From 9 P.M. – 11 P.M.
(Read: Jason is Being Nice for Lent)
(Enjoy it white it lasts Fro Yo Girls)”
-Sign in Jason’s Grocery and Deli
Now to anyone doesn’t live in Collegetown, New York, this statement has little significance. Nevertheless, this is critical to everyone and you all should be flocking to Ithaca to enjoy the above mentioned hiatus.
Jason is the middle aged owner of a convenience store in Collegetown. He is notoriously nasty and has made many a sorority girl cry rivers into her Fro Yo (a low calorie frozen dessert favorite).
Jason’s Lent promise has been big news. I’ve had a number of conversations over the past weeks regarding Jason’s pledge to kindness. In fact, I was talking to my friend Mo about it recently.
“I was in Jason’s today, and he was being really mean to a girl,” she said. “I was surprised, and then I looked at the time – 5 pm. She should have come back later.”
So get your Fro Yo with a smile while you can – this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. But check the clock before you go.
Posted: Spring 2007
17
March
2007
“You know, I’m not running for anything anymore. Usually, I just try to not say anything that will hurt Hillary. But on this one, I’m going to plead politics – that’s my business.” -Bill Clinton, on who would win an NCAA game between Arkansas and his alma mater Georgetown
The brackets are in. The upsets have begun. Believe it or not, this sorority girl beat most of the boys last year. Thanks to some advice from my bookie (aka my Brother) I won a bracket and came in second in another. Some may call it beginner’s luck. I just call it skill. But for many I know, this time of year comes only second to Christmas. So celebrate.
Posted: Spring 2007
13
March
2007
“I’ll ace any trivia quiz you bring on / I’m fluent in Java Script as well as Klingon / They see me roll on, my Segway! / I know in my heart they think I’m white ‘n nerdy!” -Weird Al Yankovic
I’m trying to churn out my marketing paper here in the Uris computer lab. All of a sudden, I feel someone looking over my shoulder. I glance behind me and some guy with a mohawk (we’re talking an impressive several inch long one) white suite and glasses with tape is walking around the lab. Surprised, I take in the scene and notice several people dressed in taped up glasses. Some have toilet paper sticking out of their pants. A few have overloaded pocket protectors. And some just kind of look like crazed, flannel and suspender clad students who haven’t left the library to shower in a few months.
Who are these people? I don’t know, but while we may (and I think are supposed to) laugh at them, I have this funny feeling they are getting the last one by giving all of the paper/prelim obsessed students a run for their money.
Smells like spring break to me . . .
Posted: Spring 2007
12
March
2007
“Hitch your wagon to a star.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Some interesting happenings of late on campus . . .
- Provost Biddy Martin gave the first ever Academic State of the University speech. I had to work during the actual event, but check out the video as I did here.
- Friday I was lucky enough to view the hockey game from a box seat at Lynah Rink. I was a member of the “Lynah Faithful” – our loyal hockey season ticket holders – my sophomore year. No matter if the team wins or looses, everyone must see a game. The fans are great, and I always find the cheers ridiculous hilarious (”Princeton’s in New Jeerssseey!” “Safety School, Safety School!”) and clearly not PC.
- Saturday I went to an extremely useful and inspirational luncheon. The President’s Council of Cornell Women (PCCW) hosted a networking event for junior and senior women on campus. The Cornell women I met were extraordinarily impressive, engaging, positive and helpful. They answered so many questions about what life is like in the professional world and after Cornell. Their perspectives were much appreciated and helped me to rethink my career plans and goals. I think a lot of students feel pressure to have figured out what they want to do for the rest of their lives by graduation day. I learned from these phenomenal women that a career can be made up of many different jobs, degrees, cities and countries – and often, opportunities come about you never expected or knew existed. My Dad always teases me that I need to figure out what I want to do when “I grow up” so I won’t be, as he says, “The best latte maker at Starbucks.” I don’t know, free Chai is tempting Dad, but maybe I’m getting a little closer . . .
Posted: Spring 2007
11
March
2007
“Optimist: The glass is half full.
Pessimist: The glass is half empty.
Engineer: That glass is twice as large as it needs to be.”
-Unknown
It’s just this thing I can’t describe. But sometimes when I go to the Engineering Quad, it’s like going to the most foreign place on Earth.
Don’t get me wrong. I passed science and math classes (yes, even calculus) with fine grades in high school and college. I’m not trying to brag or anything – I’m just trying to give you a baseline for where I’m coming from here. Despite the stereotypes, I know some pretty cool engineers – I have a lot of friends, a lot of good friends, who call this special place their home.
But there is just something about when I head south on East Avenue and run into buildings like Phillips and Rhodes (the scariest building on campus – no straight hallways, and they are all dark!) that I feel super out of the loop. All of the buildings connect – which is great when you’re trying to avoid the snow. But not so hot when you’re trying to find a prof’s room, and you realize you are four buildings away.
Let’s take 4:30 on a Friday. At this time, my beloved Arts Quad is usually quiet enough to hear a pin drop – the students have checked out for the weekend, or are absorbed in reading the latest novel or discussing philosophy in some corner of a cafe in Collegetown.
But apparently we’re all missing the party, because last Friday afternoon when I was on the Engineering Quad, the place looked like Mardi Gras. It was packed, students running around, all dolled up (goggles and aprons are the fashion rage on this side of Ho Plaza). I commented to an engineer I saw about this cultural phenomena. He looked at me like I obviously wasn’t cool because I wasn’t a regular at this event.
In the end, I am incredibly thankful for the engineers. They always fix my lap top for me or show me how to get my iPod going again. If you want my hero worship, be a computer science, chemical or electrical engineering major. Or, be able to name all of the Presidents of the United States in order. I consider all of the above equally awe inspiring.
So maybe I should hang out more in Duffield – get to know my way around. After all, there are only about three times ever I have walked past this building and not seen anyone studying (and let me tell you, they were some pretty strange times). I’m sure the engineers there are friendly people. And when I meet that special someone who knows something about PCs and Franklin Pierce, I’ll have found my new best friend. It just might take walking through seven buildings to find this said person, but at least I won’t have to worry about the wind messing up my hair.
Especially with my goggles to hold it in place . . .
Posted: Spring 2007
4
March
2007
“It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul.” -India Arie
I’ve been feeling pretty booked. It’s one of those weeks when you look at your planner and you’re hoping there actually are eight days in a week. I would call day eight “Lifeday.” Like the day you get to do laundry, call your mom, sleep for more than 6 hours and have someone else besides Papa John or Mama T cook your dinner.
But it seems we’ll have to fit it all into seven.
As I was busting it up hill to campus, consumed in my own prelim, behind on the reading, no clean clothes selfness and stress, I was reminded why the All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten philosophy holds true.
The most adorable little lady was tromping around between the snowflakes as I crossed the bridge to campus. Decked out in black and white polka dots and red boots, she had impressive style and an even more stunning smile.
It’s the little things. Take some time to dance between the snow flakes. Breath once in awhile. Live it. Love it.
And stop avoiding the libe and study for that prelim.
Posted: Spring 2007
3
March
2007
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something.” -Plato
My friend Sarah once told me that I would be a good funeral home director. Despite all of the occupations I have considered in my life (and trust me, there have been a lot) this is one that never quite made it on the list.
To most of you, I’m sure this seems like pretty twisted flattery. But coming from Sarah, I knew this was a big compliment. She told me that her family has a lot of respect for people who own funeral homes because they have to help others through difficult times.
“Nikki, you’d be honest, and not steal someone’s money. And you’d know how to say the right thing at the right time.”
I can say the first part is usually true (ok Mom, it’s me who digs all of the chocolate chunks out of the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream . . .) and the second part I aspire to, but can think of some pretty good examples when I haven’t been quite so together (we’ll refrain from mentioning them here).
Nevertheless, I think most people would identify me as the friendly, talkative type. Heck, I’m a tour guide, which means Cornell pays me to chat it up with high school students and their parents.
Don’t get me wrong, I also love quiet time (the carpet squares were the best in preschool) and listening. I think listening is often much more important than talking. I know the people who are willing to listen to me in my life – no matter the subject – are some of the individuals I most value.
But what I am against is people who can clearly talk, but can just talk about one subject – themselves.
Give it up to my favorite columnist, Craig Wilson, for commenting on this trend I’ve also noticed in recent conversations.
I was in the library a few nights ago and saw an acquaintance. I went up to him and we started chatting, although the conversation felt more like trucking up the Slope 56 times at you’re “I’m late for class, but refuse to run” walk-jog.
“How’s it going?” I asked. Then I inquired, “What are you studying?”
Not too scary right?
Wrong.
He would happily answer one of my questions, but as his sentences came to a close, he would gaze up at me desperately with his big, beautiful, brown, – and completely terrified – eyes. Moment of silence that feels like the globe has stopped turning. The eyes get bigger, more petrified. This kid is looking at me like I totally missed my cue and the play has been ruined because of it. I’m having the same feeling I did when I was the Pig in our kindergarten production of The Little Red Hen, and I forgot to put my pig nose on when I went back on stage, making the audience think I was a pink bubble gum ball rather than a barnyard pal.
I decided to take the hit. I asked another question.
“What are you up to this weekend?”
Phew. The world continues to turn. I mean, California now coexists with Alaska and Ithaca has beachfront property, but life will be sustained.
Well, at least for a few more sentences . . .
Posted: Spring 2007