At Dr. Schmidt’s talk this past Wednesday called “Place Matters”, I got the chance to learn a lot about what my peer’s lives are like outside of Cornell and how these lifestyles were shaped by their home environments. While I generally ask people where they’re from when I first meet them, I’ve never asked anyone to categorize their hometown as rural, urban, or suburban or to tell me about the history of where they’re from or to discuss the amount of diversity in their hometown. This talk made me realize that 1) people come from a really wide array of homes ranging from densely-packed urban environments to sparsely populated pacific islands, 2) you can never guess what it’s like where someone is from just by looking at them or hearing what state/country they live in, and 3) you can really learn about and connect with people if you give them the chance to share. I connect to my home city very strongly and it was inspiring to hear people share about where they are from. This was by far my favorite Rose Cafe talk that I’ve ever attended because it was an awesome discussion.
Author Archives: vmt26
Collegetown and Gentrification?
At the Rose Cafe talk last Wednesday I learned a lot about the housing market in Ithaca. There is a kind of monopoly on new construction which allows builders to set their own prices, and as a result, make it more and more expensive to live in the area. New construction made to capitalize on the demand for more off-campus student housing is, essentially, pushing people who live in Ithaca full-time out of their homes. I think that this phenomenon is similar to (or might even be?) gentrification. Gentrification has been a big issue in my home city because tech companies are developing in neighborhoods where the cost is cheaper and the demand for housing for people who work at these companies is driving locals out of their homes. I noticed a lot of parallels between the Ithaca housing market and the housing market at home… I wonder what the solution could be?
How can a shy person create an online persona??
Through this activity, I started thinking more about the value in creating a strong online persona to connect to academic peers and prospective employers. At the end of the talk everyone who attended wrote and read aloud a short description of themselves that they might use online. I realized through this activity that I am a generally private person, so it’s hard for me to want to share my interests with other people. My description turned out really bland as a result. I think that being a shy person always makes interviews and self-promotion difficult.
After this experience I realized that I need to practice explaining my interests in the hopes that in the future I will be able to express myself both online and offline to peers, colleagues, and potential employers. While it’s important to be humble I also think that I owe it to myself to put my best foot forward. I’m going to try writing a description of my achievements and interests without the intention of ever sharing it as a way of encouraging myself to produce a fuller description of myself. This description could then be modified and used online or in an interview. I also plan on updating my LinkedIn to showcase more of my achievements and to develop my own website to share my work and my perspective.
Cascadilla Hike
Going on the Cascadilla gorge hike last weekend was a great opportunity to learn about the history of the gorge and also information on enjoying nature on campus. I had crossed above the gorge to get from central campus to Collegetown many times, but this was the first time that I actually explored the trail below the bridge. Some things about my trip which stood out to me:
- I was amazed by the way that sections of the gorge look like sets of stairs and that this is actually the work of nature. The gorge is continually formed by natural phenomenon ranging from as old as when the region was covered by a glacier to as recent as strong hurricane activity.
- I was surprised to find that hiking on the gorge trail is a kind of communal activity. I encountered people of all ages engaging with nature in different ways; whether it was by splashing in ankle deep portions of the gorge, taking photographs of the scenery, or going for a brisk walk. It was refreshing to see people enjoy the world around them.
- This experience gave me a better sense of the geography of / around Cornell. For instance, on the way back to my dorm I cut through the Ithaca City Cemetery which I had never realized was right by west. The cemetery is a really interesting place in which participants in the civil war and freed slaves are buried. There is history all around campus which I miss.
Food and Friends at Applefest
Applefest was a lot of fun and this year I arrived at the event with new insights! Before the trip to Applefest we learned about how an apple’s DNA can be patented and their name trademarked. I didn’t know that apples were treated like an invention (although this makes a lot of sense) because they’re natural. I also wasn’t aware of Cornell’s role in the world of apples! This gave me more perspective for Applefest.
The walk to Applefest was pleasant and I think I’ll walk their next year too. The food/drink was delicious; I had warm apple cider, an apple donut, and apple mac and cheese. I also ran into some friends at the event which was fun. I get this great sense of community from Applefest when I see other Cornell students but also people from Ithaca College or town. This really brightened a potentially stressful weekend before a prelim. I’m also ready for fall now!
Botanic Gardens Tour
Going on the tour of the Botanic Gardens was a great stress reliever for me and made me realize that I should make it a priority to spend more time in nature while at college. Back at home I visit my grandpa at his house in the country every weekend and go on hikes through the park almost every day. Nature is a big part of how I stay happy and calm and it acts as a break from the hectic nature of living in a city. Although I walk through nature as I go to class, I think it’s important for me to take a break every once in a while and dedicate time solely to focusing on and enjoying the environment around me. Going on a hike to the gardens and looking at the plants would be a great way excursion!
My First House Event – “Putting the ‘R’ in Rose House”
I really enjoyed participating in the Rose House Café ‘Putting the “R” in Rose House: What Does “R” Stand for to you?” discussion two Wednesdays ago. Since was this was my first house event I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I thought it was great way to get to know other Rose House residents. Although I am not afraid to participate in the classroom, I can be kind of shy outside of the academic setting so I really appreciated being able to text in responses to questions posed about life at Rose House. I was surprised by how frequently I agreed with what everyone else was saying. Everyone had complaints about the plumbing in the Gothics, seemed interested in participating in networking opportunities with professors and peers, and believed that Rose House stands for community. I look forward to attending more Rose House Café discussions in the future.