Author Archives: bes89

Artistic Expression of Culture

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In my opinion, both music and art, inclusive of drawings and paintings, are some of the purest forms of expression. I’ll admit that I’m sometimes slightly jealous of the artists who can communicate their thoughts and creativity through sound and sight. There are so many nuances and details that are incorporated into these works which affect the audience, even though they don’t realize it, which is what makes it so powerful. For example, not only the complexity of the content is important, but also the canvas and materials used. The emotions that art evokes is what makes it such an effective tool, especially for social change.

The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” comes to mind when I think about the effect that art has. I was impressed by the work that artists Kadie Salfi and Crystal Clarity were tackling, since the issues seem to me so intimidating and important. Extinction, gun violence, and the police are contentious issues, but the art that they showed spoke volumes.

Additionally, I was struck by the purity of art that was presented as well as by the idea that street art is so much more than graffiti. I never really thought about it much, but the expression of art on the streets is a valuable medium of expression for many communities. As the panelists aptly said, street art is art that lives in the streets, that represents the community, and that gives people a voice.

From Virtual Classroom to Social Media

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I was slightly surprised to hear the thoughts of Dr. Kenneth Roberts and Dr. Ryan Lombardi align so closely with my own, and ended up spending several minutes after the discussion reflecting on what community means both on a small scale among my friends and on a larger scale throughout the university and county. Perhaps because I never had a close knit neighborhood growing up, I’ve always wanted to feel part of something larger and know that I am contributing something to some small part of the world. Maybe this feeling is compounded by months of social distancing, and maybe I’m not the only one feeling this way. Dr. Kenneth Roberts’ comment on how we have had recent record breaking social protests and heightened social activism, in no small part due to social media, makes me wonder if people would have had the same drive to be a part of change without first being isolated from the world.

I also had the opportunity to reflect on how I was interacting with and contributing to society now, and how I planned to continue doing so in the future. In such a polarized world, I think it is easy to become caught up in a “mob mentality” and start applying stereotypes, if only to feel like you fit in somewhere and are part of a group. I know it is important to establish my own morals and figure out my own path in life. These past few months have been a good reminder of this, and while finding new opportunities to become involved both within and outside of the university is a good start, I am truly looking forward to someday being able to say I am proud of the work I do every week.

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Inspiration and Advice

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I have gone to many of the Rose Buzz table talks now, but this one was definitely unique. The stories of Dr. Sean Nicholson and Mr. Jason Hungerford were truly inspiring and I appreciated their willingness to share details about their lives and how they got to where they are now. The talk today was much more personal and I found myself inspired by the stories they shared, in part because I could relate strongly to certain parts and seeing how they made the most of it made me want to do the same. Mr. Hungerford’s work with cancer resource centers, mental health advocacy groups, and right advocacy groups had me wondering if there was a way I could become involved in the community this summer while I am in Ithaca. His note on isolation due to covid was incredibly perceptive; I too have noticed that people seem to have become more aware of their mental health, for better or worse. I wonder where this will lead in the future, both individually as we return to in-person living and as a whole regarding societal stigmas.

I was also reminded of how important it was to set small tangible goals so that I am satisfied by progress; I learned about this trick last year in my psych class but I forgot about it until now. As my plans are not going to be achieved any time soon, this will be important for me as I move forward. On the note of the future, Dr. Nicholson’s comments were also relevant to my life right now; I have been set on a specific career for a while, and have not really considered other paths, even though my goal is almost impossible to obtain immediately out of college. Perhaps I will combine all of the ideas from today today and, while I will still pursue this goal, I can pick up a few fun secondary jobs along the way to help me explore my options and cope with the stress of my primary work.

Back to your roots

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In the past few years, I’ve had several moments of realization centered around where I grew up. I didn’t realize until I came to college how much some people identify with the country, city, or even neighborhood where they grew up; while I jokingly establish that I’m from “upstate NY” in those get-to-know-you conversations, I never built a strong relationship with the area. However, I do now realize that I have a strong identity with the environment in which I grew up. I lived in the suburbs, and while my town was not underfunded by any means, it was also not an affluent area. It wasn’t until I got to college that I realized exactly where we fell on the spectrum and how that affected me in both my personal and academic lives.

I think the comments that the speakers made about the gulf between “bubbles” of poverty and affluence was really important. I don’t think either group truly understands exactly how others grow up until they start talking about it with others and realize the disparities. Additionally, their comments on the ways in which permanently affordable housing could be accomplished really hit home. Growing up and also now as a college student, the cost of living was always a stressful issue. It pains me to think about how many social issues could be fixed, but are left untreated for years because of policy and private businesses looking for financial profit. There should never be situations in which people have to think about whether they should pay for food or heat or suffer medically because of where they were born. At both a local and large scale, I think these are important topics to address, and spreading awareness is a good first step.

A New Skill

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When I was younger, I used to love to knit. I would never have thought I could be the person who spent hours just knitting, but I found it generally relaxing once I got the hang of it. Just one row after another, without having to think too hard after the pattern was designed. However, when my schedule got busier with school and activities, I forgot about knitting and how much I enjoyed it. When I saw the event on crocheting, I was reminded of all of the projects I made. Mostly small, simple items, but I also used to make knit animals with my mom’s help. As the event started, I was definitely frustrated because knitting experience definitely does not translate to crocheting; this was an entirely new skill. But I kept trying. While I definitely have not yet mastered crocheting, I am happy to say I quite enjoy it. With several prelims this week and next, it was nice to have the time to relax and be able to reassure myself by accomplishing something concrete. A couple of rows of crocheting might not seem like much, but I could look at it and say, I did this. I’ll definitely be making my friends a few things in the next few weeks!

Cities, Culture, and Chemistry

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I decided to tune into the climate (in)justice panel this week because I wanted to hear how the speakers related the current crisis to other issues of systematic racism, natural disasters, and socioeconomic inequality. Their interdisciplinary approach to the issues facing our planet today truly resonated with me. All to often, I find climate issues are discussed in the constraints of a single cause and effect model; carbon emissions cause the thermometer on the wall to increase by a degree or two. Unfortunately, I know many people who scoff at such a small number and dismiss the danger that the we are in. I liked the way that they compared the increase in temperature to having a fever. It seems so obvious that the body must function within a range of only a few degrees and it is easy to make the connection to the Earth from there. I was reminded of a video my friend sent me the other day which explained the difference between heat and temperature and noted that large bodies of water are heat reservoirs. Thus, a small increase in temperature is the result of a massive increase in heat.

As a STEM major, I especially appreciated the connection between cities, chemistry, climate, and culture. The link between fewer trees and the heat absorption properties of asphalt in urban areas leading to hotter temperatures, and a greater proportion of minorities without access to good living conditions inhabiting these areas was really relevant. I think this is an important, but largely unrecognized connection. They also mentioned the disparity between those who significantly contribute to the climate crisis and those who are most affected by it. Even if your daily routines are not affected by the affect of environmental patterns, the lives of so many others are negatively changed. Climate change is a rapidly progressing issue which needs to be addressed.

Multifaceted Illness

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I’m really glad that there was an event for a biological and environmental issue. Although these issues have existed for years they have been particularly emphasized recently, leading to a lot of misinformation and lack of information. As a biology major, I was particularly interested in learning about how these issues are compounded by conditions which, at first glance, might be thought to be completely unrelated. For example, I knew that diseases transmitted from animals to humans could be affected by population density, access to clean water, and proximity to livestock, but I hadn’t thought much about how deforestation and extinction events can compound the dangers. Loss of habitat or predators can causes these animals to migrate and increase contact with humans, making outbreaks more common. I was shocked to learn that mosquitoes are currently the deadliest animal in the world, due in no small part to the fact that the range shift of warm, moist climates corresponds to a range shift of the mosquitoes. The approach of One Health of a global, interdisciplinary effort to improve the health of people and the environment together was really cool. While I had heard of the general concept before, I think it is something which should be highlighted more often.

At the end of the discussion we also touched on the current stigma about medicine, health and the environment. People often think that underdeveloped countries are more at risk, but in this case, the more developed countries which are very connected to the world are affected to a large extent despite the fancy hospitals. Additionally, the stigma about maintaining health is one which I think needs to be addressed more. Not only were people who wore masks in the beginning of the pandemic mocked for believing COVID-19 to be an issue, but people are also now feeling pressured into attending social events and partying. Staying healthy, whether it be personally or contributing to the health of the environment, is important regardless of what others may imply.

Pros of a Pandemic

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There is not much that I would want to retain from the past two years; not being able to spend time with others in person, staring at a computer screen for hours on end, and watching the pain of those around me has been mentally draining. However, I think that the general increase in exploring nature in a socially distanced context, even in the cold Ithaca winters, has led to a widespread appreciation of the outdoors. This has the potential to reinforce conservation efforts and reduce the irreparable effect that humans have on the environment. The Rose Buzz this week with Todd Bittner, Director of Natural Areas, and Andy Zepp, Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, was encouraging. Both Zepp and Bittner talked about their experiences contributing to land protection, conservation, and reintroduction programs which support proper use and appreciation of the surrounding areas. I think the two most amazing things they mentioned were the increase in use of preserves and gardens due to the pandemic and the ability to reach people from several different countries through virtual seminars. I hope that we will keep at least a few aspects of this life after the pandemic ceases to control our every action. Although it it has distanced us from some people, it has also allowed us to connect with peers across the world.

Qualifications of Leadership

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I think I really needed to hear what Ms. Opperman and Professor Cornell said tonight during the Rose Buzz House Fellow interview. I have been so focused on obtaining the qualifications, skills, and background necessary for my future, which has been quite overwhelming. I’ve wondered if I need to get multiple majors or experiences in order to handle the challenges which will be presented by my future career. However, one of the things Ms. Opperman said regarding her leadership experience resonated with me. She reminded me that I don’t have to be an expert at something in order to work with or lead others, I just have to recognize that I’m not the expert. In this way, I only really need an understanding of how others can contribute their expertise and how people can collaborate, rather than trying to be an expert in all of the fields myself. That is what makes a good leader; the ability to recognize the strengths of each person and encourage collaboration.

Something else that both Ms. Opperman and Professor Cornell touched on was the idea of community service and giving back to those around you. This is something which I have been looking into, since I agree that a sense of community is very important. I really appreciate that they are so involved in not only the lives of Cornell students but also the greater Ithaca area. Helping others is rewarding for everyone and I think that the opportunities to do so should be made easily available for Cornell students. We are so lucky to be here and if we can contribute to the rest of the community beyond the boundaries of the campus, I think it would mean a lot.

Rewriting History

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I am so glad I attended the calligraphy workshop! I have been interested in different handwriting styles for a while, and calligraphy is a natural extension of that. Although my skill is admittedly lacking, I found myself relaxing as I was tracing the letters. It was nice to have a break from school to focus on something as simple as drawing lines for fun. Going back to the beginning and just learning the basic shapes of letters also brought back memories of my childhood. When I was younger, I wrote with a different style of “a” and “g,” (see photos). However, I was encouraged to switch to what people usually think of for these letters so that people would not be confused. I thought I lost the muscle memory of these letters, but I was quickly able to figure out how to draw them again. It is nice to know that I have not completely lost this skill. Handwriting has changed so much throughout the years, from alphabets to fonts to script lettering, and the ability to write in different styles is one of the things that I promised myself I would never lose. Practice makes perfect, and I will not give up on writing with different letters or styles.

The “College Experience”

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The past two years have been the best years of my life. I was finally able to take classes that were relevant to all my interests and spend time with new people who I know will be lifelong friends. When the pandemic forced us to switch to online learning, I, like many of my peers, was worried that I would lose those connections. It didn’t feel much like college anymore. And with the added flexibility in my schedule, I made the decision to fill my free time (what little I still had) with more classes and work. Suddenly, I found myself reverting back to the sleep-eat-class-study-sleep cycle which every college student is familiar with. But is the isolation that accompanies such a busy schedule what college is supposed to be like, even during a pandemic?

I suppose I already knew the answer to this question, but I needed to hear it before I truly believed myself. Listening to the differences between the most transformative undergraduate experiences of and the current teaching experiences of Dr. Daniel Schwarz and Dr. Shirley Samuels forced my approach to college back into perspective. Although Dr. Schwarz and Dr. Samuels answered travel and gaining work experience, respectively, to the first question, they both tied their time as an undergraduate back to independence and exploring what the world has to offer. As someone who has barely traveled in my life, learning about different cultures and geographical regions seems somewhat surreal. I fully intend to take Dr. Schwarz’s words to heart in order to learn and live through travel before I graduate in another few years.

Dr. Schwarz mentioned one more thing which I found particularly interesting. I have heard from many professors and adults in my life that students are not taking college as seriously anymore. It seems to be a general consensus that students go to college to party and take advantage of freedom, rather than to take part in the lost art of academia. However, Dr. Schwarz conveyed a compromise to the two extreme college experiences that I believe is incredibly important, especially now. I entirely agree that college should be a place of learning, but I think it is also important to recognize that students learn not only from professors and textbooks but also from each other. Students have different ideas and approaches and part of learning is interacting with peers and sharing ideas, and therefore meeting new people should be an encouraged part of college. I feel like this is compromised during virtual learning, but by taking an active part in finding people to study with and work with, I know I will my time at Cornell will not be wasted.