Author Archives: xy339

History Close To Cornell

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I never realized that there was so much history just a few hours away from the Cornell campus. The opportunity to visit the Women’s Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls and the Harriet Tubman House in Auburn were opportunities that I could not pass up on. 

The first stop on the trip was the Women’s Right Museum, where we learned about the history of the town, the history and fight for women’s voting rights, and the fight for equality. I had the opportunity to visit the chapel, the site of the first Women’s Rights Convention in the United States. From the park ranger, I learned more about the events of that day and of the key women and men involved in the fight for equality. 

The second stop of the trip was the Harriet Tubman house. Here, we had the opportunity to learn about the life and work of Harriet Tubman. The tour guide’s passion and knowledge regarding the early life of Harriet Tubman, her accomplishments, her work during the Civil War, and her later life was truly remarkable. Previously, I did not know much about Harriet Tubman’s early life, especially her brain injury caused by a two-pound weight. Some say that this head injury caused her to hear voices/messages from God, which spurred her and helped her during her journeys on the Underground Railroad. Furthermore, I previously did not know that Harriet Tubman played such a large role during the Civil War. I had learned that she was a spy for the Union, however, I was not aware that she had also led Union soldiers into battle and had served as an army nurse! Finally, from the tour guide, I also learned of the vital role that Harriet played in Auburn after the Civil War. Her work with her nursing home (which provided aid to other African Americans) was truly inspiring. 

Overall, I am really thankful to have the opportunity to visit these two historical locations. Being able to learn of the history of these two locations, the people involved, and the significance of this on the course of U.S. history was eye-opening and inspiring.

A Green Thumb

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I’ve never considered myself to have a green thumb. My grandfather and mom can seem to make anything grow, but it seems that this trait has skipped me. Last year, I had bamboo and an air plant in my dorm, and this semester, I was able to add a cactus to the mix! I’ve always wanted a cactus, and am thankful to have the opportunity to pot one this semester. With succulents being one of the hardiest plants and easiest to raise (so they say), I hope that I will be able to watch it grow. So far, it seems to have fared pretty well, and I hope that I will be able to bring it back with me to campus next semester.  

Mass Hysteria

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The movie this week was Contagion, very fitting given the current circumstances that we are faced with the outbreak of the Coronavirus.

Though the movie highlighted the worst-case scenario, in which the virus that was circulating had a short incubation period, mutated quickly,  spreads easily, and was extremely deadly, the parallels between the movie scenario and real-life are nevertheless still present. I think that the movie does a good job at highlight cross-contamination and unsanitary practices (be it raising livestock, preparing food, serving food, etc), that can contribute to the rise and spread of novel viruses and other pathogens. Also, given that the world we live in is becoming more interconnected, the spread of the virus that was highlighted in the movie is a scenario that can occur in real life. People can travel across the world in the span of a day, there are large cities with dense populations, and more, all of which can facilitate the spread of a virus and lead to an outbreak that can be hard to control. 

I think that one of my favorite plotline of the movie was the focus on the efforts of the CDC, WHO, and other organizations around the world to identify and develop a vaccine for the virus. I admired the depiction of the healthcare workers, scientists, doctors, etc who were working at the epicenters of the outbreak to discover the origin of the virus, help those who were sick, and work towards a vaccine for the virus. Even though there is a personal risk to these people, they nevertheless served their duty and helped in any way that was possible. 

On the other hand, one of my least favorite characters was Krumwiede, the conspiracy theorist. Through his online blog/website, he continuously spread conspiracy theories about the disease, about how a cure was intentionally delayed, and peddled a fake cure. All of his actions just contributed to the mass hysteria associated with the disease, and his constant denial of his actions and its negative consequences was another aspect of his character that I did not like. However, I again think that the movie depicts his character in a faithful manner. With the initial lack of information regarding the disease and lack of progress, it is easy to gravitate towards those who offer the “answer” or a sufficient explanation, and in the case of the movie, Krumwiede was the one who offered the answer and a “cure.”

Overall, I really enjoyed watching Contagion. I don’t think that a virus as deadly as the one depicted in Contagion is going to arise, but, if one does, it really raises the question of what our response to such a virus will be, and whether society will turn into one similar to that depicted in Contagion. 

 

Finalized

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Coming into the Roommate/Suitemate Meet and Greet, my blockmates and I were looking for one more person to fill the double in the suite (that we were hoping to be able to get). Going to the event, I was concerned that most of the other Rose Scholars had already found blocks. However, there were still several other Rose Scholars looking for blocks, so we had the opportunity to talk with them. After talking with a few other Rose Scholars, getting to know them more, and working out final details, we were able to find the last person for our suite! 

Finding housing for the 2020-2021 school year was something that had always worried me, so being able to finally sort out the issue of housing lifted a weight off my shoulder! Just last week, we finalized the housing process and participated in room selection.

I am thankful that Flora Rose House hosted this meet and greet. It was a great opportunity to meet other Rose Scholars, talk with them, get to know them better, and to meet potential roommates and suitemates. Also, I am thankful that I have the opportunity to continue to stay a resident at Flora Rose House. I look forward to getting to know my suitemates better and also to live with them next year! 

Snowflakes and Chinese New Year

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I had the opportunity to attend the paper cutting craft session hosted by Flora Rose House. Here, I was able to make Chinese New Year lanterns and snowflakes to use as decoration for my dorm! I’m really happy with the way that the snowflakes turned out. Granted, a few of them were rough around the edges as it was hard cutting through all of the layers of paper, but nevertheless, it was a fun experience. 

I remember making Chinese lanterns every year when I was in elementary school. Making these lanterns reminds me of how when I was little, I would craft these lanterns in school, decorate them, take them home, and hang them up in celebration of Chinese New Year. Even though I am unable to celebrate Chinese New Year with my parents this year, making these lanterns brings back memories of previous Chinese New Year celebrations and the experiences that I had with my friends and family.

It had been a while since I made paper lanterns, so the first one I attempted to make did not turn out so well. The lantern was not sturdy enough and flopped over. However, I tried again and made a second one, this time adding reinforcements to the structure, resulting in a sturdier structure that I decorated and finished. 

Overall, it was a fun and relaxing experience being able to talk with other Rose Scholars at the event. It was a great way to relax and unwind after a hectic start of the semester!