Author Archives: jkc229

My Mantra

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On Monday’s Table Talk, we were asked to express our views on stress and how we handle stress as students at Cornell. Being in the middle of prelim season, I could not have found this topic to be any more relevant to my current state of mind. The talk overall made me think deeply about how I handle stressful issues. Personally, I prefer being alone and spending time by myself to assuage feelings of uneasiness. Others, on the other hand, may prefer to socialize more with friends and seek comfort in other people.

At the end of the talk, we were asked to think of a personal “mantra” that we can always turn to when we’re stressed. For me, I chose the phrase that my family always tells me when I feel overwhelmed: “you’ll be fine”. It’s simple and short, but it works for me. My hope is that everyone else can find their own mantra to help get them through hard times.

Cornell’s “Intense” Students

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When Ryan Lombardi, the VP of Student and Campus Life, mentioned to us about how Cornell students had been described as “intense” by other faculty members, it really woke me up to the environment that I currently live in.

What really stood out to me during Mr. Lombardi’s discussion was this concept of comparison on the Cornell campus. As a transfer, I have certainly had my bouts of stress and “fifth-life” crises in the past few months. Sometimes they get overwhelming and there’s nothing that you can do but wait for it to leave you, or perhaps confide in other people and hope that they can help to assuage the situation. We all compare ourselves so much to others that we end up losing focus of ourselves. This leads to unhealthy tendencies and very inconsistent sleep schedules, which are romanticized in college culture. It’s almost as if we are all competing to see who can be the most unhealthy on campus.

Overall, the discussion made me reflect on my time here at Cornell, and while I do get stressed at times, I do genuinely appreciate how much this campus has pushed me to be the best version of myself. I have greatly enjoyed my time here and hope for more good (but probably stressful) memories to come.

Walking for a Cause (CRC Walkathon 2018)

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As soon as I read about the CRC Walkathon in the Rose House Newsletter, I knew that I had to participate in some way. My aunt passed away from cancer several years ago, and I try to participate in as many events as I can to raise money for cancer research.

When we all arrived at Cass Park, I was amazed to see the amount of people who were there to support the cause. We learned before we arrived that the CRC’s ultimate goal this year was to raise a total of $165,000. We were also told that, with successful efforts, the CRC had managed to raise $145,000 already, with about $1,000 of that money coming from our own Flora Rose House!

Overall, participating in the walk was enlightening as I got to witness people of all ages and backgrounds come together to support a great cause. I’m very glad that I got the chance to contribute even a little bit this year, and will definitely participate again next year.

Ithaca’s Core Tradition

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Coming into Ithaca, I had always known that Upstate New York was famous for its apple orchards and picture-perfect fall weather. So when the opportunity came to attend Ithaca’s famous Apple Festival, I knew I had to go. Before leaving, we were told that Applefest was an Ithaca tradition. What I didn’t expect, however, was that this year’s festival was actually the 36th annual Apple Festival! After a week of prelims, this was just what we all needed.

At first glance, the entire scene of the Commons seemed chaotic and overwhelming. There were too many vendors, too many people, and way too many apple-themed goodies. My friends and I first waited in line for the famous apple donuts, then proceeded onto various other treats such as apple ciders, smoked gouda and apple mac and cheese (which was amazing), as well as some poutine!

Everything tasted amazing, but what made me the most happy that day was feeling this sense of community and belonging in Ithaca. Cornell’s campus can feel, at times, like a bubble, so connecting with the greater Ithaca community that day was an enlightening experience nonetheless. I will definitely be going to Ithaca’s Apple Fest again next year and will definitely be getting those apple cider donuts again!

GATTACA (but in real life)

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In high school, I remember watching the same film in both honors and AP Bio. GATTACA, a film starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, explores the potential issues and consequences of genetic engineering. In a futuristic society where genetic status has overridden more humanistic concerns, the rich and successful, eager to obtain physical and mental perfection, have taken to genetically engineering their off-spring. These lab-created babies are known as “Valids”, while those conceived in the normal, loving fashion are called “Invalids”, and are considered second-class citizens at best. The movie shows the main character’s journey as he goes through great lengths as a genetically inferior man and assumes the identity of a superior one to pursue his lifelong dream of space travel.

Shiv’s table talk made me realize how much closer we are to making GATTACA a reality. With his mention of the revolutionary gene-editing tool called CRISPR, and how it can be used to develop gene-based medicines for genetic diseases, it seems that we are indeed closer to that reality. Furthermore, for the first time, recently, scientists have demonstrated that a controversial new kind of genetic engineering can rapidly spread a self-destructive genetic modification through an entire species, such as mosquitoes. The scientists used CRISPR to engineer special mosquitoes with a “gene drive”, which rapidly transmits a sterilizing mutation through other members of the mosquito species. These special mosquitos were created in the hopes of using them as a new weapon in the long, frustrating fight against malaria. However, there is a lot of controversy behind this method of eradicating malaria, as Shiv explained that it may seem as if humans are “playing god”. If modifying mosquitos brings so much controversy, I wonder what the public response to genetically modifying humans will be.

Another Hidden Gem of Ithaca, NY

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Whether it’s the beautiful gorges, hiking paths, apple farms, and stunning vineyards of Ithaca, there are many hidden gems in this town of Ithaca just waiting to be discovered by us Cornellians. Over the past weekend, I believe I have discovered another one – the Ithaca Farmer’s Market.

We had been told before we left Rose that the Ithaca Farmer’s Market was ranked #2 for the best farmer’s market in the world, and upon hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel both excited and skeptical. How could Ithaca possibly possess such a farmer’s market that surpassed the many that I have been to before? This remark of mine was answered as soon as we arrived.

The market is situated under a giant pavilion right next to a beautiful waterfront. Upon walking in, I became overwhelmed by the sheer number of local vendors and the variety of goods that were offered. Being a huge foodie, my eyes quickly drew toward the food vendors, and I was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of food that was offered. Whether it’s Cuban, Korean, Spanish, Japanese, Cambodian, Thai, Mediterranean, or tasty desserts you’re craving, the Ithaca Farmer’s Market is bound to satisfy your taste buds. You will not be disappointed! I sure wasn’t, and I definitely plan to visit this hidden gem of Ithaca again (mostly because the apple cider donuts were amazing).