I made the thanksgiving paper garland with the intention of me and my family reflecting on what we are thankful for this holiday season. On Thanksgiving, I intend for my parents and my siblings to each take a cutout and write what they are thankful for. It may sound silly or too heartwarming to bear, but especially during times when me and those around me have been stressed about life, it is important to take a step back and reflect on what has helped us. For me, something I am grateful for is my family. No matter the time of day someone always answers and listens to me vent, laugh, cry, and talk. I was able to keep in touch with them and still be involved in their lives. I may have been annoying, and sometimes they might not have wanted to answer, but I am grateful that every time my name popped up, they were able to say hi. 
Author Archives: CB Long
Learning with Trivia
Trivia is a great way to gauge how much you know while also realizing how little you know. I wonder how much you know. Here are a few facts I learned:
Did you know Ezra Cornell rests inside Sage Chapel? It is surprising and personally creeps me out every time I think about it.
Did you know someone at Cornell invented the chicken nugget? This was a really cool fact I learned recently. Something people around the world enjoy as their favorite fast food item was invented here on campus; it really puts into perspective how great Cornell is.
Did you know that, on average, clouds weight 1.1 million pounds? Those floating white bundles of water vapor in the sky are super heavy.
One more: Did you know that the peregrine falcon is the fastest animal in the animal kingdom? When it does a hunting dive, it reaches speeds over 200mph. Contrary to what I have believed all my life, the cheetah is actually the fastest land animal.
This sounds counterintuitive, but doing trivia is a great stress reliever. We all know a lot more than we think, and even if it is not conscious knowledge, it is somewhere deep in our subconscious. The challenge is whether you can recall it and recall it correctly. Like any test, when doing trivia, you have to trust your intuition. After attending virtual trivia this afternoon, I was reminded of that: when in doubt, trust your instincts.
Celebrating with Art
It has been quite a crazy week. As everyone ran outside to enjoy the unnaturally warm weather or celebrate the election’s results, I preferred to stay in the comfort of my room and make art on Microsoft Excel with other Rose Scholars. In my small group we candidly talked about ourselves, Thanksgiving, the election, and anything in between. We quickly recreated an abstract image of Cornell’s Vet School spent most of the time relishing in the positive vibes of the day. Unlike any other event, I felt like I really connected with other Cornellians and a sense of community that I think everyone has been deprived of this academic semester. It may be only today, but I had a lot of fun being able to let loose, forget about my worries, and make something on one of the most emotionally charged days of the year.
Crafting with the Scholars
If you did not think it was fall in Ithaca (because it hadn’t gotten too cold yet), you woke up this morning like I did: freezing. After probably the last warm day of the year, the cold has settled in Ithaca. This afternoon I joined GRF Karina and other scholars in making leaf catchers. I find craft-making relaxing and, in my cozy sweats, it was a great way to decompress as we head into the last month of the in-person fall semester. What I enjoyed most about this session was staying after the designated hour to talk with and get to know Karina and two other scholars. I have found Rose Scholars a great way to get to know other people and connect with fellow Cornellians when everything is confined to the virtual world. As I finished my leaf catchers and spoke with my peers, I was reminded of how much I missed being able to meet new people. I was also reminded how much I like exploring the greater Ithaca area. I have not been apple-picking, to a pumpkin patch, and have not been able to get off-campus to do simple activities like shop. As I look at my finished leaf-catchers, I let all of my thoughts fall onto these leaves so that I will not forget the connections I have made.
It’s Spooky Season!
Half of the month of October has come and gone. With prelims wrapping up this past week, I have finally been able to start celebrating one of my favorite holidays: Halloween. Whether you are a fan of haunted houses, creepy tales, the costumes, or looking for an excuse to eat copious amounts of candy, everyone can find something to like about Halloween. This weekend I was able to join a few of my classmates in virtual Halloween games. The games were simple, child-like fun. We did Halloween trivia, a Harry Potter-themed escape room, and made words from Halloween words. While these are not elaborate games meant to exalt this spooky time of year, I loved being a part of the fun because these games were simple. Their simplicity reminded me of when I was a kid and spent all of October immersing myself in spooky thrills. As I have gotten older, Halloween has lost a bit of its child-like wonder, and that’s because I am not a kid anymore. I do not get excited dressing up, I do not eat candy, and I do not like scary stories. How I celebrate Halloween has changed. Instead of dressing up, I put on my Halloween-themed pjs and watch thrillers with my friends. I might not eat candy, but I eat a lot of other treats. And, while I can’t go to a haunted house this Halloween season, I can make my own creepy den out of bedsheets and low-lighting. I may be older, and college may be (well, is) happening, but nothing is going to stop me from getting in the Halloween spirit.
Trying a Different Kind of Exercise
After trying out the yoga in the Virtual Yoga Session, I have realized that yoga is not for me. Now, I do not want to discount yoga. Yoga’s focus on meditation, breathing, and mind-body connections establishes mindfulness and can be a great stress reliever. Throughout the session, I was open to the instructor’s words and actions, and I did feel more awake than when the session began. But, I am not partial towards a slow-paced workout that is meant to be relaxing. I am someone who likes to feel my heart race, my muscles burn, and adrenaline rush through me. My preferences tend towards strenuous exercise that allows me to be a bit aggressive. This is how I relieve my stress and tune out what is plaguing my mind. That’s why I am a part of Cornell’s tae kwon do club. I did not dislike the session; there is overlap between the yoga and tae kwon do. In both I have to be focused and completely aware of my body so that my body does what I want it to. And, for tae kwon do, there is the added element of analyzing what my opponent is doing and how I should respond; there is strategy and quick decision-making involved. I like these aspects of tae kwon do, and for this reason, I am committed to it. During the session, I saw moments where these two types of exercise intersect. It was a good opportunity for me to explore other types of exercise and I encourage my peers to try out something new. You do not have to like it after trying it out; you only have to be open to it. Yoga was not my style, but I am certain others enjoyed it. After today, I have a better understanding of why I love tae kwon do and why other people love yoga.
Realizing my superpower and its potential
To understand yourself you have to take some time for self-reflection. When everything in college feels like it is happening at a break-neck pace, it can be difficult to do that. But, after attending TableTalks with GRF Christa, I realized how important it is to do so. Everyone has strengths that we may be aware of or unaware of that can be used to our advantage. At the start of the session, I was asked what I thought my superpower was. When I heard this question, nothing came to mind because I did not identify with being hard-working, organized, or dedicated. I have these skills, but they do not feel my own. When it was my turn to share, I blurted out my personality: I am an understanding, openminded person. After some back and forth with Christa and insight from my peers, I realized how closely tied my career prospects were with my personality. I had always thought my career and who I was were disjointed, but there was logic behind my choices in why I chose my field and continued to follow its trajectory. Like most people, I know myself, but I do not really know myself. Right now, I am a confused college student trying to figure out how to find internships and connect with others who have similar (or even dissimilar) interests. Getting coaching from others helped me understand myself a bit more. I like hearing other people’s opinions, especially those different from my own. There is something intriguing about finding new perspectives and changing your frame of mind. This is not something that feels new to me; it feels like it became clearer. From this TableTalk I have started to truly understand how powerful coaching is. I had a biased perspective of myself, but after sharing a bit about myself, I have a greater understanding of how powerful my superpower is.
Rose House Radio
While I was taking a nature walk Sunday afternoon, I joined other Rose House Scholars in a brief 1 hour jam session of what Rose is currently listening to. I was surprised at the diversity of genres that were covered. From Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” to early 2000s classic “Airplanes” and recently Swift’s “betty”, the playlist had something for everyone. I enjoyed the laidback vibes from the event; everyone was logged on listening to the same tracks while they did their own thing. There was a sense of community and togetherness despite the quarantine we are going through and limitations on social events. What I took away from this session was not only does everyone have great musical taste, but that we all share an appreciation and love for music. No matter how distant others can feel from yourself, we all have something in common. Coming from someone who is prone to being a loner, it is a comforting feeling. Thank to GRF Thomas for hosting the event and for announcing the song requests. I added a few of my fellow scholars music to my own playlist.
Reflecting on Store Bought Cards
Store-bought cards are great; they have never failed to do their job, but I have always found them a bit hollow. While their messages are sweet or comedic, they are also mass-produced slogans that can be given to anyone. When I think about all the cards I have ever received, the ones I have appreciated have contained personalized messages or were hand-made. At GRF Seema’s card-making workshop, I found myself reflecting on how important it is to show how much you care about others through your actions. I could write a simple “Happy Birthday” message to my sister using a store bought card, but putting that same “Happy Birthday” message in a card I made would be more memorable. I would take her personality into account, adding silly drawings and shared jokes to a card matching her favorite color scheme and patterns. Everything I put into the card would be for her. A store bought card does the job, but hand-made cards carry a stronger message of care and affection. Looking at the cards I made, I am happy to say that I may have found a new potential hobby.