I was working on an assignment with a friend when the time finally came for the Rose Playlist event. I had been excited to hear a diverse range of music from my fellow Rose House residents and had prepared my earphones accordingly, eager to find new songs to add to my own playlists. As the songs rolled through, I was shocked at just how different each one was– there was classical, country, pop, KR&B, hip hop… what a wonderful cluster of genres to liven up my Sunday! And to make things better, each song came with a small description of who submitted it and why they chose it, narrated serenely as if I was listening to a lowkey local radio station. It was touching to know that each song was hand-picked for a different reason and that, regardless of my own preference of the song, it was somebody’s favorite. Perhaps it is my weird curiosity about other people’s music preferences that led me to attend this event, and perhaps it is my own weird music preferences that led me to appreciate others’. Regardless, I enjoyed participating in this event and hope it makes a comeback next semester!
Author Archives: mab635
A New Light on Interning
Ahh, isn’t internship searching so fun and not stressful at all? Couldn’t agree more. Sarcasm aside, I found it fascinating to hear about the internship experiences of fellow students who have gone through the recruiting, applying, and interning processes from start to finish. Though the panelists were all of different majors than I am and consequently had internships that I would fail miserably at, their advice was perfectly applicable and their experiences were encouraging to hear. Internships can be a chance to realign interests, gain helpful mentors, and (of course) learn a lot about how the world functions. Internships can be a chance to build up further career goals and break down weaknesses. Internships can be a chance to work for pay and work to serve. Ultimately, internships are versatile, and they will be what we make of them. All we have to do is apply!
What Makes Sound Music
I love finding new music when the opportunity arises, and this LWYL Café event was no exception. The music I heard there, however, was different– it had stories of struggle, protest, and resistance embedded in its melodies. I must be honest in saying that, at first, the sound clips seemed like just that: sound. Where is the melody in the sound of gunshots? Where is the rhythm in the sound of falling beads? It made me question what draws the line between sound and music.
By the end of the event, I was closer to an answer. Without intention and creativity behind the formation of a melody and rhythm, sounds are just sounds. That is what draws the line– the person, the intention, the story behind the sound is what turns it into music. Music needs no hard definition, and music need not be exclusive. I came to terms with that by the end of this event, and my ears have become more receptive to new sounds– new music– since then.
Takeaways from the Criminal Justice System
As much as I think I know about America’s mass incarceration, I realize I have only seen the surface of it. Attending the eCornell Keynotes event on the criminal justice system, I had a only a peak into the reality that families across the country must live through. The reality of the tunnel that feeds black Americans into the prison system from the day they are born, the reality that the prison cycle will only continue because society doesn’t accept released citizens back into their community, the reality that the separation of inmate families only leads young children down a deeper hole towards incarceration. What we can do as students and citizens of this country is support prison systems in nurturing its men and women who are so close to the path of living free and well– it starts with being educated on the criminal justice system and working to support those who are suffering from its rippling waves.
Speaking Out on Campus
America’s history is reflected in its universities and its students. Though Cornell is relatively young compared to other elite institutions, it has still been hit with some of the worst of our country’s history– history that has moved students then and now to rise together against social injustices both on campus and beyond. If we look at Cornell’s own history, racial and socioeconomic injustices have been tolerated just like they have been in most universities across America. Though the days of segregation and racism seem like they belong in the past, it is clear that its shadows continue to loom over this country.
It was not only awakening to hear the perspectives of a couple of guest speakers at the October eCornell Keynotes event on this country’s past mistakes, but also encouraging to find that university leaders are now making more efforts to support student activism to help mend those mistakes. The only way to move forward from the grim past is to invite peaceful protest, legislative amendments, and constructive discussions, especially on college campuses that are building up the next leaders of the world. As discussed during the Keynotes event, top universities like Cornell ought to do more than boast of their diversity and inclusion in their brochures; there must be a genuine commitment to hearing student voices and giving them the space and time to speak it. Especially now, in a period of vulnerability throughout the country, it is crucial that students at top-tier universities take advantage of the privilege we have to be heard, and that leaders of those top-tier universities do all that they can to support us through it.
The Human Side of Professors
While listening to the backstories of Professor Alabi and Professor Yapici during the October Fellow Interview, it came as a shock to me that professors are actually human beings. They like sports, they have families, they prefer having fun while they teach… totally human of them. Of course, I know professors have lives just like we do, but something about the gap between us (students) and them (instructors) makes it hard to picture President Martha Pollack going to the movies or Professor Gries grocery shopping– you know, doing human stuff. Is it just me?
So when I was able to listen in on this fellow interview with two Cornell professors, I finally got a chance to peek into the unknown life of professional educators. It felt like a natural conversation (even though I didn’t have to do any talking, thankfully), learning more about the struggles, successes, and surprises of their uniquely human lives.
We ought to hold more fellow interviews, fellow talent shows, fellow discussions… opportunities to get to know professors on a more personal level. They are times for professors to show off their gifts, reveal their backstories, and give advice to students who really do want to learn more about the person behind the professor.
A Couple of Haikus on Yoga
A haiku based on my experience doing yoga (for the first time) on a Sunday morning, feeling rejuvenated by end of the session:
Awake and rested,
I found opportunity
For peace through yoga
A haiku based on the surprising relaxation I encountered while doing yoga (for the first time) on a Sunday morning, on my dorm room floor.
Stretching on the floor
Expecting some discomfort
Yet I was cozy
Birthday Card Panic
Every fall, I have two “big deals” to prepare for: the start of the school year and the flood of birthdays among friends. While the former is surprisingly easier to manage as September creeps closer (perhaps because my major’s four-year plan is practically laid out for me already), the latter is what ignites my worries. What gifts should I get my dear friends? How can I possibly beat last year’s gift? Where can I access gift supplies as a college student who is barely scraping by with a few BRBs and meal swipes? These kinds of essential questions are unending.
In my vain attempt to avoid these worries this year, I managed to order gifts on Amazon mid-August in preparation of the fall birthday season. I thought I had everything planned out– I either shipped the gifts straight to my off-campus friends or had it sent to Rose for me to hand-deliver around campus; I even made sure to include the gift receipt option (just in case). But once I arrived on campus, I realized I had forgotten one crucial part of every birthday present. The card.
Regret! Shame! Fear! Questioning life! What will my friend think of a mere gift with no card? In what world can a gift with no card beat last year’s gift? And where can a college student who is barely scraping by with a few BRBs and meal swipes access card-making supplies for this catastrophe?
Amidst my frantic search for quaint birthday card stores in Ithaca, I received the iconic weekly email from Rose Scholars that we all know and love. And behold, a card making workshop with GRF Seema was happening on Saturday.
Joy! Excitement! Courage! Questioning life! My fall worries had been relieved and I finally had the (very diverse set of) materials and inspiration to make personalized, full-of-love birthday cards to accompany my friends’ gifts. Thank you, GRF Seema, for bringing your creativity and organization to the workshop. Now I can continue into this fall season without my annual birthday-season fears weighing me down! What a fall to remember.
Wait a minute… does anyone know where I can get envelopes?