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Opportunity Knocking

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Trustee Viewpoint

I recently did something usually reserved for commencement in May: reflecting on what Cornell has meant to me. This endearing look back, when pretty much everyone else on campus is looking forward, was precipitated by an invitation to give a five-minute speech at the President’s Convocation for New Students and Families during orientation (because I am the “senior” student-elected trustee). I figured the best way to introduce Cornell to new students was to explain what it has meant to me ...

“I remember sitting where you are when I was a freshman at Cornell. You know, 17 years old, having grand plans for life after college, wishing my parents would finally leave campus. But, after four years here, I changed, my plans changed, and new opportunities arose. So, I decided to stay on for graduate school and was elected to serve as a student representative on Cornell’s Board of Trustees, which, by the way, means that if you ever have any thoughts about how to improve Cornell I very much welcome your input. Feel free to stop me on campus or drop me an email.

The time I have spent at Cornell can really be summed up in one word: opportunity. You will quickly find that there is so much going on here that it is near impossible to keep track of all of the opportunities available to you. Nevertheless, your time at Cornell will be greatly enriched if you engage in some of the opportunities available in what I consider three main areas: academic, community and extracurricular.

As you know, the Cornell course book is enormous. There is just page after page of different classes you can take; the opportunities are pretty much endless. So, enroll in something you don’t know much about, because it might pique an interest you never knew you had. I entered Cornell as a math major and then took a Nepali language class based solely on a childhood love of the outdoors and a fascination with big mountains. I enjoyed the class and learning about the culture so much, that I ended up studying abroad in Nepal and adding Asian Studies as another major. In addition to the course material, the people teaching the classes are also an invaluable asset. Despite my desire for my parents to leave campus, the best advice my mom gave me before she left was to make an effort to get to know my professors and teaching assistants. They are all interesting people and can teach you more than just about the course material. But here is the hard part; professors and teaching assistants do not generally initiate one-on-one conversations with students, especially not in some large intro classes. Rather, they welcome you to take the time to visit their office hours to chat and ask questions. I promise that the relationships you make with your teachers will mean just as much to you as the ones that you form with your peers.

Looking at the bigger picture, you are entering into a completely new community, both physically and socially. For some of you, living in our rural setting will be new. It sure was for me when I came here from the bustling city of Pittsburgh. But I embraced it as an opportunity, because, who knows, I might end up working in a big city and this could be the only time in my life I would get a chance to live in a more rural setting. So, get out and enjoy the natural beauty of this area. Local parks like Buttermilk, Treman and Taughannock are all close by and the Adirondacks are definitely worth a camping trip at some point too. Socially, the Ithaca area is home to a pretty eclectic group. I have had the opportunity to meet people very similar and very different from me. Take advantage of both types of relationships. I have learned so much from people that I have disagreed with, whether it was on religious philosophy, U.S. foreign policy or which dining hall is the best. The conversations you have might not cause either of you to change your minds, but defending your position and being open to someone else’s is still worthwhile, even if at the end you agree to disagree.

Finally, while presumably the main reason you are coming to Cornell is to get a good education, you should also have some fun along the way. I strongly encourage you to get involved in something other than your schoolwork. Extracurricular activities provide a balance and act as stress relievers, because — trust me — you will need a stress reliever that keeps you happy and healthy. Beyond your personal sanity, getting involved is also a great way to meet people. Because the campus is so diverse, there are a huge variety of clubs you can join, ranging from political activism, to singing and dancing, to public service, to athletics. Find a handful that work best for you and don’t be afraid to try something new.

Personally, I have found that Ithaca offers wonderful terrain for running outdoors, making all the miles I ran on Cornell’s track and cross-country teams easily palatable. Which brings me to my last thought, stemming from my early days as an athlete. My high school track coach was a huge fan of the famed early 1970’s distance runner Steve Prefontaine and often echoed a quote of his, ‘To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.’ While you can certainly see how this applies to running and athletics in general, I think it is just as applicable to life. Doing your best at Cornell might have different results than you are used to in high school.

Remember, one bad grade is not the end of the world; you just have to learn from it and do better the next time. As for the gift, it is the Cornell community; a wonderful opportunity you have earned the privilege to receive. Your time at Cornell will go by much faster than you realize, so, do your best, and take advantage of some of the amazing opportunities available here.”

Doug Mitarotonda is a student-elected trustee. He can be contacted at dcm14@cornell.edu. Trustee Viewpoint appears alternate Tuesdays.

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