Last Thursday I went to a Rose Scholars event not knowing anything more about it other than the fact that they would try to teach us how to thrive at Cornell. At first, I was a bit skeptical, as I have heard many motivational talks about the small things to change in your life and it hasn’t made that great an impact on my life. But for some reason, this event really resonated with me and I went away with slightly different views of how I should lead my life. The most important thing for me was when they discussed our use of technology. I suddenly realized that I use every spare moment, every single one that I have, by looking at my phone. And I thought to myself that maybe I am having too many impressions and too little time where I just exist without an immediate purpose.

After the event, I tried to put down my phone and my computer more often, and it was harder than I thought. I notice that I slip up all the time, but I still have seen some benefits already, even though I have only practiced this new self-control for less than a week now. One of them is that I feel that it is easier for me to focus on my homework, as I don’t have so many distractions anymore. My mind also feels more collected in general somehow.

So, I am very pleased that I chose to go to this specific event. I only wish I had taken notes as they said a lot of very wise things to us. The presenters, Vice President Susan Murphy and Catherine Thrasher-Carroll, were both very nice individuals as well and I stayed for a dinner with them afterward, which I enjoyed a lot.