I found this Career and Teaching conversation with two Professors appealing because it was really directed to us undergraduate students and very personal. The professors wove their journey from college to academia in an insightful way and offer a perspective about their undergraduate experience.

I am always interested in what drew the professors to their career today.  Both have so many similarities that it was uncanny.  Curiosity, love of teaching, love of working with students, love of art and literature were among some similarities.  The biggest takeaway from this conversation was the never-ending life-long learning experiences that they prioritize. This discussion  allowed me a glimpse into the lives of these professors and their amazing trajectory into teaching at Cornell.  I am now more appreciative of our access to these renowned professors, authors, publishers, willing to spend time talking about their career and offering us their advice and perspective. As an engineering student, I do not have much in depth interaction with such Professors of art, literature and history.  After this podcast- I have a renewed interest in trying to fit in a liberal arts class in possibly Literature or American Studies. This was stirred by Professor Schwarz mention of his Ulysses class.

Another note that I will remember is their travel overseas sparked their interests and opened opportunities in their careers.  I understand that the immersion in different cultures was key to their future groundbreaking work in research or publications.

‘Zoom Teaching is Teaching, no excuses’.  It is refreshing to hear this point of view.  We can still learn in this different medium over Zoom, all of us have a stake in its success and ‘we try to make hope and history rhyme’.  I fervently agree with  Professor Scwartz ‘no excuses’ position.