Teaching manifests itself in many different ways. Whether formally or informally, we always need someone to learn from. This theme was especially evident during the Fellow Interview with Professor Schwarz and Professor Samuels. Both professors talked fondly about their teaching experiences, not only from the perspective of conveying knowledge, but from the sense of creating a community. We talked at length about the uniqueness of the Cornell community, and this is definitely true. It is so special to be able to learn in an environment of such smart, talented, diverse minds. Beyond the traditional knowledge sharing that happens during teaching, they emphasized the fact that even in a zoom classroom, teaching and learning can be rewarding. After all, it is about the connections that you make with other students and the teacher in understanding the information. Professor Schwarz’s mention of how he used to take walks with his graduate students really embodies this philosophy. I appreciate Professor Schwarz and Professor Samuels taking the time to teach us about their views and perspectives.
Author Archives: atg55
Two Perspectives On Housing
I never before realized how housing has such profound social effects. In the Learning Where You Live conversation, I learned about the impacts that housing can have on how our society operates. Professor Susanne Collins shared her research into segregated housing and how institutions can invest in different housing forms. She mentioned that this shift occurred after the financial crisis of 2008, which I just learned about in one of my other classes. In my class, we learned about the psychology of fear and how this contributed to the panic and crash of the stock market. We also considered how stimulus packages helped ease the country out of this downturn. However, Professor Collins’ perspective offered a new view on the aftermath of the crisis, and how it might have been different if the government had bought houses in suburbia, and was therefore able to regulate housing more closely. I enjoyed hearing this perspective, and learning how availability of housing has such a large impact on our society.
Understanding Our Climate And Our Society
The impact of climate change not only changes the physical world, but also has impacts on our society and culture. After listening to the LWYL cafe, I gained a new perspective on these effects. Professor Shi specifically mentioned adaptation in the context of climate change. She brought a new view that I had not considered before, specifically the idea that climate change can affect the way cities and populations are structured. As a professor in the school of city and regional planning, she studies how people move and adapt to the way the climate is changing. From deforestation to the depletion of coral reefs, these can have profound impacts on the human population, and these can play into the inequalities already present in the society. She mentioned the fact that she views the problem as connecting all the way back to Colonialism, which I had never considered before. In all, this was an interesting conversation that explored beyond the typical causes and effects of our changing climate.
Local Music
I enjoyed learning about the local music in Ithaca during the LWYL cafe on Sounding Out Ithaca. I never before realized how many musical organizations are present in this area, especially Ithaca Underground. Hearing the musicians talk about their work and what it means to them really inspired me, as I find it so powerful to see a group of individuals come together to do something that they love. I especially enjoyed listening to Sammus speak, and she described her life growing up in Ithaca. She is now a post doctoral fellow, and I find it inspiring how she has been able to specialize in studying something that she is so passionate about. In the end, it is so important to enjoy what you do for a profession, and this talk serves as a reminder of the importance of finding a community to share that passion with.
Learning from Nature
This past year, I think nature has taught us a lot. Even though screens and technology has increased in prevalence during the pandemic, the prominence of nature has as well. This view was echoed by house fellows Todd Bittner and Andy Zepp. The conversation revealed the importance that nature has for all of us, and how it has been an incredible resource during the pandemic. It was impressive to hear about all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on to keep the parks in the Ithaca area and on the Cornell campus up and running. As we talked about during the interview, one of the benefits of the pandemic was that many people rediscovered their love for the outdoors. The Ithaca area has so much natural beauty, and I was happy that I was able to experience it so much this past year. I now realize that people tend to take things for granted – and the pandemic has reinforced the importance and beauty of our outside. To this end, I truly hope that people remember their new-found love for nature and continue to spend time outdoors, even when we resume our “new normal” activities.
Examining the Role Health Plays in Our Society
At the table talk discussion about OneHealth and zoonotic diseases, I learned a lot about how different aspects of health play out in our world. In a society where the word “health” has now taken on a completely new importance, it is fascinating to learn about there is more to what is considered healthy than one may typically realize. I didn’t realize, for instance, that OneHealth takes into account the state of animals as well as humans, and measures how the environment is doing in these relationships as well. Before, I had thought about diseases and their impact on humans, but I did not consider how environmental impacts can impact this spread of disease. I also did not realize the frequency of which diseases can jump between animals and humans. It was interesting to consider case studies such as salmonella outbreaks, and the impact that this can have on all aspects of our society. In an ever more interconnected world, this talk made me realize the importance of considering all possible causes and effects that an action can have.
Royal Life
I enjoyed attending the table talk discussion about Meghan and Harry. We had a fun conversation, talking about the recent interview of Meghan and Harry by Oprah. Many new perspectives that I had not considered before were brought up, such as the impact of the interview on the royal family, and whether Meghan and Harry had talked about this at all with the family beforehand. It was also interesting to learn more about British Royal life and its complex history. Often, the Royal family is seen as an organization, however, it is important to remember that its members are people just like everyone else. Do they have a responsibility to uphold moral standards and portray themselves to the public? How much privacy do they have and should they have? These are interesting questions that we discussed, and it really shined a new light on the complications of being an individual in the spotlight.
Career Advice
I appreciated the career and life advice that was shared during the Fellow Interview with Professor Nicholson and Jason Hungerford. Both shared stories of their past experiences, and offered advice about our future. I really enjoyed hearing about Professor Nicholson’s path, and the fact that he also didn’t know exactly what he wanted to do. It was inspiring to hear him talk about being a high school teacher for a few years, and how hard of a job it was. He is someone who has been able to follow his passion, and is now doing research and teaching at an academic institution. This resonated with me, as I am trying to decide what I want to do after graduation. Hearing his path gave me a new perspective on figuring out what direction I would like to go in. The work that Jason does with the cancer resource center was also inspiring to hear about. Both of them have had very different paths in their career, but they both are doing something they are passionate about!
The Power of Perspective
Getting to talk with Professor Roberts and Ryan Lombardi in a more casual setting was very inspiring! I love learning about people’s backgrounds and understanding the path that got them to where they are today. For instance, it was great to hear about Ryan Lombardi’s background. He shared his past experiences before coming to Cornell, and it is apparent that he has a deep passion for helping students and for Cornell as a school. After originally considering becoming a high school music teacher, VP Lombardi decided to go into education. It is clear that he really enjoys helping others, and really cares about the students that he works with. I believe it is important to understand where people come from, and this rose house interview was a great way to get to know Ryan Lombardi in a more causal setting. Talking with VP Lombardi and Professor Roberts made me realize that it is people just like them that are making decisions for Cornell as an institution, and it is comforting to know how caring and kind individuals they are!
Reflecting on the Past, Predicting the Future
I really enjoyed attending the Table Talk discussion with Ryan Lombardi. Our conversation really opened my eyes to all the logistics that Cornell had to consider when deciding whether to open for the fall semester. These are truly unprecedented times, and it is remarkable to reflect back on all the decisions that had to be made, and all the logistics that had to be worked out, in order for Cornell to open for an in-person semester. Our discussion really made me realize that if there is one thing that we learned during the pandemic, it is that we cannot predict the future, and must be open and willing to adapt along the way. This guidance will serve us well as we look ahead to the fall semester.