The mini-seminar “How Not to Choose a Career” was very nice because we were able to have a sit-down with a professor in the sociology department about the different paths that can be taken throughout a career. As a DSOC major many of the concerns that were brought up, such as parental concerns and monetary concerns were ones that were familiar to me in many ways. This seminar gave a sort of reassurance that no matter how concrete a decision may seem, there are always many opportunities to find something else that intrigues you even more. Change is always constant and if you enjoy what you do, then there is always something positive in the choices that you make in your career.
Author Archives: kv237
A Walkathon to Remember
Having only participated in one other walk for a cause kind of event, I thought that the Cancer Research Center’s walkathon would be a great way to try to support the center. I had never heard of the walkathon before this year, so it was surprising to see the magnitude of people that were at the event. The community that was at the event showed the support that the Ithaca community had for people whose lives have been affected by cancer. I learned more about the research center just during this walk, and I also was exposed to more of the people that are involved with it in a course that I took this fall. I believe that this cemented the presence and impact that the CRC has on the Ithaca community as well as those who have and continue to be affected by cancer.
Accessibility
Every single time I have watched WALL-E in the past I have thought of it as a cute family movie, which it is, but this time around there were so many more aspects that stood out for me. While the environmental issue in WALL-E has always been at the forefront for discussion, I found myself relating to the humans that had been in space waiting for Earth to become inhabitable again. The commodity of accessibility and effortless attainability of goods is seen everywhere today. Through Amazon, online shopping, and technology in general, there is an entire world at our fingertips that we have to put little to no effort in obtaining. We don’t have to go to stores, banks, or even restaurants to get the things that we want because they can be delivered to our front doorstep. Over time, this accessibility becomes second nature and we do not realize that many of these things didn’t even exist 15 years ago. We become unaware of our dependency and expectations of it, just in the case of the humans on the ship. Although WALL-E is a great movie to watch with a family and young children, it brings us to think about our need for easy access.
Chinese Checkers Night
I believe that the game night held at Rose was a great idea to take a break from the end-of-semester atmosphere. It provided a space where some oldies but goodies could be played and brought back up again. I have not played Chinese checkers in a very long time and I was able to play and introduce it to a friend who had never played it before. As someone that grew up with large family game nights that included aunts, uncles and cousins, I have become competitive even in the smallest and less extreme board games, such as Chinese checkers. This was a great break and a way to have fun while also being reminiscent of the game nights that I’ve had in the past. Chinese checkers is one of the games that I have not even thought about for the longest time, and it was great having the opportunity to play it again.
What’s This?
I had only watched “The Nightmare Before Christmas” once before watching it for the Friday Film. Having grown up in a household that preferred the “nicer” Disney movies, it was never one that had really been on my radar. Upon watching it the first time last year, I found the movie itself entertaining, and this last time, I found several aspects of it interesting. As a popular holiday film, it receives a lot of attention around either Halloween or Christmastime because of the mesh it is between the two. I found it interesting because of this fusion, since Christmas decorations come up very soon after Halloween and very often before Thanksgiving. This portrayal in the film shows the large contradiction between the two holidays and how they are different in almost every way. In the sense that many long for the winter holiday season and others believe that it shouldn’t start until it is actually after Thanksgiving or in December, the film provides both angles- those that wish for Christmas and the almost indescribable atmosphere it brings along for some people, and those that enjoy each holiday as their own.
Learning about Desmond Doss
Hacksaw Ridge is a film dedicated to telling the story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector in the Battle of Okinawa. A Virginian Seventh Day Adventist, Doss felt the need to serve in the military, but refused to pick up arms throughout his training and during battle. Facing criticism on many sides, Doss continued to stand by his beliefs and was able to save the lives of 75 men without ever taking up arms.
Having never heard of Desmond Doss, I was completely astounded by his story. Considering the pressure that people are put under during a war and the additional pressure Doss faced for being a conscientious objector, I also found it inspiring that Doss was able to stand by his beliefs. As a Virginian myself, I’m surprised that I have not heard about his story and the way that he had an impact on the lives that he saved on Hacksaw Ridge. While the religious take on the film may not be to everyone’s taste as was mentioned in the discussion after the film, I think that most people can agree that there is courage in not falling under pressure and standing by your beliefs, whether it be religious or not.
Professionalism
Last week, I went to get professional headshots done for the first time. I remember having heard of the idea of having headshots as a Rose event last year at the last Rose cafe, so it was very nice seeing that such recommendations were being taken into account. I was surprised, however, that the headshots were being offered so early in the semester, though I suppose that it would be the most helpful around this time.
While I have heard of events offering headshots at Cornell in the past, this was the first time that I have taken advantage of such an event. I am glad that I decided to do so, because it has become one thing that I can check off of a list pertaining to job searching.
Although the main purpose of the event was to get the headshots, we also discussed the idea of professionalism while we were waiting for out pictures to be taken. It was a comfortable environment that allowed us to ask questions such as what is considered business casual vs. business formal. It was a very good way to incorporate the idea of professionalism into the event. While not a formal discussion, it was good to hear what tips people had when going to different events. I would be interested in seeing another event similar to this again in the spring.