I walked into last week’s Rose Cafe expecting to creep in the back corner like I usually do and listen to Sam Beck lecture about the NYC Urban Semester program for an hour without much input from students. As soon as we all settled down though, he opened up the talk with “I don’t like to lecture” and instead insisted he wanted to hear about all of our individual ambitions and how Cornell’s resources like the Urban Semester could help us achieve them. I immediately suppressed a groan. I’m always curious to hear other students talk about their studies and goals, and I love to hear the passion in the voices of those that know exactly what they want to do. I, on the other hand, haven’t really found a passion in my area of study and have no idea what to do after Cornell, so whenever anyone asks me these types of questions I don’t have much to contribute. As the other students began sharing, however, in between those with a clear plan there were more people in the same situation as me that I would have imagined, which was incredibly reassuring.

As Sam Beck went around the room and had us share our major and future goals, he gave everyone individualized advice and encouraged just about everyone to look into the Urban Semester to help them get real world experience. He also emphasized the importance of finding a mentor on campus, either a professor or advisor who makes an effort to get to know us, helps us navigate our interests, and who is generally invested in our success at and beyond Cornell. I am incredibly fortunate to have found a mentor on campus, whom I met freshman year. This professor has provided me access to so many incredible opportunities and I am very grateful to have someone who is as invested in my future as I am. I truly hope every student has the opportunity to form this kind of relationship during their time on campus, as I have found it to be incredibly valuable. Overall, this talk really made me reflect on the opportunities I have been granted at Cornell as well as the resources I have yet to explore.