#cornell150

It’s Charter Day, and Cornellians in Ithaca and all over the world are celebrating 150 years of our beloved institution. 150 years of progressive thinking, of cutting edge research, of blizzards, of memories. Yesterday, I attended a few Charter Day lectures (almost by accident). I met President Rawlings, the esteemed 10th President of Cornell, who was as kind and caring as he was tall (and he was really tall). As a Rawlings Scholar, meeting him and getting a picture meant more to me than I think most would understand. This is the man who founded the scholarship to support undergraduate researchers like me. Because of this scholarship, I want to pursue a PhD. I am a better scientist, researcher, student, and human because of it. To think that I have that opportunity at this school because of people like him continually amazes me.

At the Charter Day ceremony today, they premiered a video for the occasion. They had every from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Ed Helms (Andy Bernard), Steve Strogatz to Kate Snow. Professors, students, department chairs alike were featured along with beautiful scenes of nature that is Ithaca. They spoke to Cornell’s esteem, its prestige, and I had shivers from just how lucky I was to be at a place like this. It was inspiring, made me want to take my research and run with it. To do something big with it. To change the world.

Now whether I do end up changing the world or not is not really the point. The point, I think, is that Cornell allows me to dream. It allows me to think of anything that I want to do and gives me to tools to do it. It’s nothing short of magical.

To another 150 years of showing us we can do anything we want, because this is truly a special university. Happy Birthday, Cornell.

Happy birthday Cornell!