Author Archives: jt688

Many Backgrounds, One University

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On Wednesday, I had the chance to participate in an engaging discussion with Stephan Schmidt.  Initially, I thought this talk would be centered around Stephan’s research and his opinion on environmental design and land planning.  Instead, he decided to go around the room and ask each one of us to describe our hometowns.  In doing so, I learned about everyone’s background and how different they were to mine.

While some of us grew up in urban centers like Brooklyn, others were originally from rural parts of India.  This gave me context as to how I viewed my community.  As a resident of Long Island, one problem my community is facing is the aging population.  Unfortunately, due to the high cost of living, young people who cannot afford the taxes of Nassau and Suffolk County move to the city.  I was able to express this concern to Stephan, and as a former Long Island resident himself, he understood the problem of the region.

Another part of our discussion was looking at Ithaca and its land planning.  I thought it was surprising when Stephan asked the question “who owns a car?”, and the only person to raise his hand was House Professor Blalock.  We then discussed how not having our own cars on campus made us dependent on public transportation.  Consequently, going to stores like Target and Walmart are not as easy.

Yoga, a Perfect Way to Start the Day

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With prelims on my mind and accounting homework due by midnight, I chose to start my Saturday morning doing Vinyasa yoga with Meagan.  During this one-hour session, Meaghan taught us how to ignore all the stresses we’re facing and focus only on ourselves. From the warrior position to the mountain stance, I learned the steps of Vinyasa yoga.  I think it was especially helpful that I started my day off with this mental exercise.  On a usual day, I hop out of my bed, get ready for class, and start the day with a cup of coffee.  On Saturday, Vinyasa yoga gave me the rush of energy that my cup of coffee usually gives me.

At Cornell, academics and internship recruitment sometimes take a toll on our mental health.  I believe that Vinyasa yoga should be a way students can distance themselves from the stress of the semester.  While the gym strengthens our physical health, yoga is an activity that maintains our mental health.  Considering this, I believe activities like Vinyasa yoga should be practiced more often by students at Cornell.  I appreciate Meagan taking the time to walk around and critique each of our forms so that we made the most of this session.  I truly enjoyed the experience and would highly consider doing it again in the future.

Genetically Modified Salmon

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Last week I had the chance to sit down with Tyler and a few Rose Scholars to discuss the impact of genetically modified salmon in the Canadian market.  Before I walked into the dining hall room, I had read the recommended article and started to formulate my opinion on the topic.  Initially, I was not in favor of genetically modifying animals such as salmon.  I thought the idea of altering the genetic code of animals is a slippery path, but I was curious to hear others’ opinion.

When I sat down with the group, I heard the different arguments for genetically modified salmon and realized that this food source will be eventually viewed as genetically modified crops.  Initially, consumers like myself will have the idea that genetically modified organisms are unnatural.  However, it is important to note that animals are currently being injected with chemicals harmful to consumers.  I believe that if companies selling genetically modified salmon are priced lower than their natural counterparts, people will respond to the incentives and purchase the salmon.

I enjoyed this discussion with the other Rose Scholars and it was interesting to hear everyone’s opinions.  I thought our discussion on the environmental risk of introducing genetically modified salmon was particularly interesting.  In conclusion, while genetically modifying animals could present new opportunities, it could also disrupt the natural ecosystem.

The Similarities of Welton and Cornell

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Last week I had the opportunity to view Dead Poets Society in the Rose Dining Hall Room.  The captivating movie illustrates the internal conflict of the protagonist Neil Perry, torn between his true passion of acting and the desires of his father.  While his parents wanted him to pursue a stable and widely-respected career, Mr. Keating encouraged Neil to explore his burgeoning interest in theater.  It was disappointing to see how this internal conflict led to Neil taking his own life at the conclusion of the movie.

Even though this movie was released in 1989, the theme of external pressures influencing student decisions is still prevalent today.  At Cornell, students are expected to compete with their peers for selective internships in hopes of attaining a lucrative career.  However, it is sometimes difficult to discern between genuine passion and pressure placed by those close to you.  Similar to Neil, many students at Cornell fear the consequence of failing to meet high expectations.  While those close to you want what is best for you, they sometimes distract you from pursuing your true passions.

Another similarity I saw between the Welton boarding school and Cornell is the emphasis on tradition and customs.  When the students walked through the hallways, there were always pictures of alumni hanging on the walls.  Additionally, tradition was one of Welton’s “four pillars”, and I believe that Cornell has certain unique cultural elements as well.  From coined terms like “prelim” to symbols like the McGraw clock tower, most students have embraced the Cornell culture and its rich history.

The Impact of Climate Change on Malawi

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A few of my peers and I had the opportunity to have a dinner conversation with visiting fellow, Ruth Magreta.  Our discussion revolved around agricultural production in Malawi and how climate change is drastically altering the environment.  While those living in the United States may not feel as though climate change is a significant issue, regions such as Malawi are already feeling its effects.  For many families, growing crops and trading it with neighbors was their primary source of food.  Climate change, however, has devastated agricultural production in the region and has left people wondering why this natural phenomenon has occurred.  When I asked about the potential use of GMOs to solve this food shortage, I was surprised to hear that people in the region would rather starve than eat “unnatural food”.

It was disheartening to hear how political donors influence the policies that are enacted in Malawi as well as the United States.  In both countries, the government is driven by who can provide campaign contributions and who can appease the masses the fastest.  It is a shame that the United States’ decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord will inevitably effect regions such as Malawi.

Lastly, I thought Ruth’s discussion on cultural differences between the United States and Malawi was very interesting.  She was very surprised to hear that a majority of students at Cornell were women.  In Malawi, this was atypical.  Women were either tending to their children or participated in a domestic role.  This dinner conversation made me realize how fortunate we are to live in a place where we don’t need to worry about putting food on our plates or having a roof over our heads.

 

 

Judge Miller’s Discussion

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When I attended Judge Miller’s discussion last week, I was very impressed by his ability to narrate a story and share the cases he worked on. Although I do not plan on pursuing a career in law, it was interesting to hear the challenges of a criminal defense lawyer and how he dealt with the toughest of cases.  Most notably, I remember the rape case and how the defender’s story of events seemed completely unrealistic and yet, in the end, it was the honest truth.

Additionally, I really enjoyed Judge Miller’s ability to narrate a story.  When I asked the question about how his role has changed from attorney to judge, his account of the grumpy judge when he was a young lawyer brought a crisp image to my mind.  I genuinely enjoyed his ability to make us laugh and see the light in dark situations.  From the way he sat in the chair to the words he chose to use, I could tell that Judge Miller was passionate about his career and realized the incredible impact he had on lives.  I too hope to develop that passion in the career I choose to pursue.

I hope that Judge Miller comes back later this semester and shares even more cases with us!

 

A Day in the Farmer’s Market

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Last Saturday, I had the chance to go to the Farmer’s Market and I truly enjoyed the novel experience.  When I arrived at the Farmer’s Market with my friends, we were in awe of the different local vendors and the different types of cuisine’s that were served.  I started with the honey vendor who was selling natural honey.  On his right, he had live bees in their honeycomb creating what was to be our special treat.  When he handed me a sample and said “Try it!”, I tasted the natural honey and knew this was not something I could get at any retail chain like Shoprite or Walmart.  Unfortunately, the honey was out of my budget for the day and so I had to move along to other vendors.

I think the most fascinating part of the entire experience was seeing how local farmers and vendors come to one common location and share their product with the greater Ithaca community.  As I continued to walk around, I remembered that I didn’t drink my daily cup of joe that morning.  Since I was at the Farmer’s Market, however, I thought I would try something new.  I stood in line at one coffee shop and ordered a Kombucha.  To my dismay, Kombucha was not a type of coffee as I had thought it would be.  However, it was a sweetened black tea that supposedly had a lot of health benefits.  After taking a few sips, I was surprised by how savory this drink was and how I never heard of it before.

The overall experience at the Farmer’s Market was incredible and I hope to further explore the market even more when my parents visit next month!