Author Archives: Sarah Castor

About Sarah Castor

Hi, I'm a Junior studying Communications! I am primarily a part of a Christian campus organization called Cru and I love singing!

Plants in South America

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In February, Professor Andre Kessler talked about how his experiences in the Andes changed his perspective on climate change. He told stories of how religious leaders in South American tribes have predicted a downfall in the health of our planet. He then talked about how switching to other sustainable ways of feeding people, such as eating crickets, can help save the planet.

His efforts to influence our environmental behaviors reminds me of something I learned recently in Persuasion and Social Influence. Researchers have found that a few reasons why many people are not influenced by environmental communication is that the message 1) lacks intentionality or real goals, 2) there is no moral violation that produces intense emotion, and 3) the consequences seem distant, and 4) climate change is slow and gradual.  Due to the nature of the issue and the way that media covers it (or fails to), it’s difficult to get people to be active in combating it. There has to be a better way of communicating the severity of the issue. Perhaps using more stories about how climate change impacts people like monks in the Andes would help.

The Glorious West Campus

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Ah West Campus, it was always a joy looking towards the skyline and seeing a new painting in the sky. I’ve seen the sun be and emit so many shades red and orange here. Back in February, the past In-House Professor for Rose talked about how the finger lakes were formed, how Ithaca became a bustling town, how certain buildings on campus got their names, and most importantly, how the drop off right behind West was formed.

Stewart Ave. wasn’t always there. Right behind where Rose Main stands today was a lake; everything past the drop off was under water. That means that long ago, the sun did not dip behind buildings, but a watery horizon. Gorges.

I had a lot of good memories on West Campus (I’ve lived there three times for summer programs since I was in high school). We really had it good there.

A Date with Destiny: Job Interview Tips

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Last week, Mary Opperman talked with us about job interviews, from supervisor expectations to ensuring that your own needs are met. She talked about how, in the heat of the moment, students are so busy thinking about how to impress the interviewer and just want the job that they forget to consider these things. Here are my takeaways:

  • Consider the workplace. Ask the interviewer, “If I asked one of the employees what they like about this place and the job, what (or what is one good thing) do you think they would say? Would you mind if I asked employees this question?” If you haven’t had a chance to get a feel for the place (maybe it was a phone interview) and you got an offer, say, “You know, that would really seal the deal for me is if I could talk with other employees. Would you mind if I do so?” You want to make sure that you can function, there’s no drama/gossip, and you can have a life outside the job. If there’s any red flags, don’t take the job.
  • Consider the supervisor. Ask the interviewer, “How would you like to be contacted? When do you expect me to start/finish the tasks? If I need help, am I supposed to go to you or a team member? What skills will I actually gain for working here? Why is this position open and what is its role in the large scheme of the company’s goals? If I obtain the position, how long would I be expected to hold it?”
  • Consider the job. Ask the interviewer, “If there is on-boarding/training, how would I be trained?” Go over the job description and note any other genuine concerns with functionality (how often will you meet with the team, do you have the weekends off, etc.).

When considering these tips, I realized that I rarely think about what I want and need from a workplace, boss, or job. My needs seem pretty met here at Cornell; I got used to everything being provided for me. Pretty soon (since I’m a junior), I will need to seriously think about how to ensure that my needs for community, a silent work space, a mentor, a friend, a way for me to express myself, and people I can talk to who will listen when something is wrong (whether it be a sudden emergency or sickness or I have doubts about the field) are met.

Opening up to New Ideas

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Last Monday, we had a discussion about the discrimination Asian American and Asian students have been facing on campus due to concern for catching the corona-virus. At first, I was apprehensive. The first few comments were about, to me, useless contemplation of America’s response’s similarity to our response to sickness during America’s colonial period. I did not want to make this a social constructionist talk where we got into musings about the meaning of culture and relativistic interpretations of what appeared to be hard scientific facts.

However, as the table went around, I remembered all I’ve learned in my time in liberal arts and how I say the value in those studies. They did indeed point to revelations that mere numbers could not unveil. Because my heart softened, I was able to truly hear fascinating points and I learned a lot. Disease is, in a sense, a social construct as it is thought of and handled differently in different cultures. Because of America’s social construction of disease, we tend to try to keep “bodies” out that pose as new, exotic threats. This poses a tension in CDC policy; on one hand, disease control is necessary to keep people safe whole on the other hand, unnecessary protections driven by a fear harm those with disease.

Does that mean that our social construct of disease from which that fear derives is inherently bad? I would say, yes. It is tainted by the inherent badness living in each of us.

Being Honest in Your Personal Statement

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After the workshop we had on writing a personal statement for law school, medical school, and graduate school, I thought a lot the role authenticity in writing.

During the talk, Zach gave some good points about sounding confident but being in honest in talking about post-graduate & professional school goals, explaining why we qualify for the program, and describing our “aha moment” that made us realize that the path we chose is a good fit for us. What really stuck was his comment on the tension between selling yourself and arrogance: “You don’t have to put on airs to impress them.” This got me thinking about how in high school, I attempted to give undergraduate universities what they wanted by sounding lofty and intellectual, trying to prove myself as worthy of going to that school. However, if the program is truly the right fit, being our qualifications will just show if we are candid. As Zach said, “By the end of your personal statement, I should be able to look at what you wrote as say ‘I see why it makes sense for you to be in this program.'” We, as writers, simply guide the readers to see what we already see.

This session inspired me to start writing my reasons for applying to a PhD program now!

Caring Community

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In the G42 apartment this week, we had a Sexual Violence Prevention Program Coordinator and victim advocate Laura Weiss talk to us about her work with Cornell Social Consultants, students who work undercover to prevent sexual violence.

I was fascinated  by the ways that individual members of mini-communities took initiatives to better their communities. From what I gathered, they first analyzed a specific interaction that they want to stop, e.g. sexual violence and rape. They brainstorm to find a way to disrupt this interaction using a fun activity or a convenient solution to a problem in the community. Lastly, they tell the leaders of the community who then implement the idea.

I found this interesting because community can be crucial for a person’s well being and development. This evidence-based way of improving a community such that a person isn’t harmed by it has so much potential to solve group conflicts and issues, maintaining a safe space for people to be or live in. I’m considering diving into this more, looking for information about not only conflict resolution between two people but also the manipulation of the community’s routines for the sake of its members.