Going into this talk, knowing that it was going to be about life during and after college, I didn’t have very high expectations. Authority figures have been lecturing me about these things for as long as I can remember, and I wasn’t particularly thrilled to be going to another such talk… I was pleasantly surprised, however, by how blunt and relatable Dan Schwartz proved to be. The biggest thing I appreciated about Professor Schwartz was how candid he was about his own opinions. I’m sick of people beating around the bush, telling me that “it’s up to you” or “there’s no right answer.” While I do see value in figuring things out for yourself, I also think that hearing another’s opinions and weighing them against your own is equally beneficial.

With that in mind, I walked away with a few great life lessons….

• “Time is time” – Time is and forever will be our most valuable commodity.
• Make connections – Try to get to know at least one new professor every semester.
• Success is contingent upon the 3 “R’s”: resilience, resourcefulness, and resolve.
• You cannot change the past. Start from where you are, and move forward.

And finally, laugh 🙂

All in all, I left this talk with a greater appreciation for my time here at Cornell, and incredible respect for such an introspective, intelligent man. I’m very glad I went.