Learning how to make origami figures was slightly challenging, but really fun. I was really happy with how the origami turned out. I was able to make a crane, frog, and rose.
Author Archives: ds868
Talk with Ryan Lombardi
The table talk with Vice President Ryan Lombardi made me excited for what is in store next semester. It was very comforting to hear that 98% of students were complying with the COVID-19 surveillance testing. This could possibly allow for more campus activities and in-person classes in the next semester. Although everything is still pretty uncertain, it seems like Cornell has managed to have the virus more under control. It was also very nice to actually be able to ask VP Ryan Lombardi questions and talk to him directly. Cornell’s success in dealing with the pandemic is inspiring and makes me excited to return for the spring semester.
Start Small
I joined this panel because the thought of applying to internships scares and overwhelms me. However, hearing from people who were in the same position as me was very comforting. It gave me hope that I would be able to achieve similar things to them. The tips they gave made the process seem less frightening. I was pleased to find out that there are many things I can to do get started, it is just necessary to reach out to people. This could be done in several ways such as using handshake or linkedin. It also made me feel less stressed knowing that it is not necessary to start off at a high prestigious position, a lot of of these people eventually got better positions after starting off small. This inspired me and made the internship application process seem like a smaller obstacle to get through.
Resiliency & Hope
After watching the forest episode in the Our Planet series, I was impressed with nature’s resiliency. When footage of the extreme wildfires throughout the forests were shown, I was initially very upset and concerned. I assumed that these wildfires would have a very negative impact on the forest environment for an extended period of time. However, despite the initial destruction, these wildfires actually allowed for new life. They cleared tall trees that blocked sunlight from reaching the ground and allowed new plants to grow. The after effects of the Chernobyl catastrophe were also extremely impressive. After having watched part of the HBO Chernobyl series, it became very clear to me how horrific the aftermath of the explosion was. I would have expected that area to remain uninhabited by any living creature for thousands of years due to the radiation. However, this Our Planet episode proved my expectations wrong. Chernobyl has become a thriving forest environment with many animals specifically because of the lack of humans inhabiting the area. This episode showed me a new perspective on catastrophic events. Although they may have detrimental initial effects, positive things may come of them in the future,
Relaxing Craft
I love crafting and the fall season, so I was particularly excited to participate in this activity. Although I was unable to get my supplies, I found some autumn leaves outside and made a leaf dream catcher. It was very relaxing to craft while listening to music. Now I have a nice fall decoration to hang in my dorm.
Gruesome Effects of Radiation
The third episode of Chernobyl took a dark turn, focusing on the aftermath of the disaster. It was truly devastating to see how the radiation took such an intense physical toll on people’s bodies. I was particularly very taken aback at the damage the radiation had done to Ignatenko, the firefighter. It was very upsetting for his wife to have to see him suffering throughout the process of radiation sickness, especially knowing that she was expecting a child with him. This focus on Ignatenko and his wife really emphasized just how gruesome the effects of radiation and the Chernobyl incident as a whole were. The fact that there are so many other people that were affected in similar ways due to the nuclear explosion is overwhelming and extremely depressing to think about.
De-stressing Yoga
Last Sunday, I attended a morning yoga session with Lewis Freedman. After a week full of prelims, it was refreshing to to relax with using different yoga poses. Initially, I was worried that I was not flexible enough to achieve the poses, but throughout the class I found that each pose was pretty simple and calming. I focused on breath which made the poses easier and brought be a lot of peace after my stressful week. I also tried to focus on the present moment, rather than the past or future, as I stretched which also released a lot of tension within me.
Hidden Threat
Last week, while watching the second episode of the HBO series Chernobyl, I was shocked to see how poorly people in power handled such a disastrous event. As Professor Legasov stated in the episode, the explosion in Chernobyl released two times more radiation than Hiroshima. Despite the obvious threat this radiation exposure may have on the millions of people living near the site, government officials continuously denied facts and logic to maintain their reputation. While people were dying or unknowingly getting exposed to radiation, the people in power refused to take initiative until other countries caught on to what was happening. It is extremely upsetting knowing that many more lives could have been saved had the government officials listened to the scientists advising them and informed the public about the situation earlier. The episode also made question how many secrets the people in power keep from the public to this day.
Being a True Antiracist
Last week I attended the “How to be an Antiracist” Book discussion. Due to the social justice movements currently going on in the United States, I was interested in learning more about the fight against racism. Although I have not read the book yet, this discussion definitely inspired me to begin doing so. Professor Bronfenbrenner brought up a lot of points of how racism still prevails in our society in ways I did not expect. For example, she shared her own experiences of watching her daughter be treated differently based on her heritage. This was extremely upsetting to hear, but it gave me more motivation to work against this issue. To become an antiracist is to not only accept and love the people around you, but it is also acknowledging privilege and allowing yourself to feel discomfort. Despite the pandemic making it harder for people to physically protest, feeling, learning, and talking about these seemingly “uncomfortable” topics can help you grow and become a more accepting person.