Personal Narrative: My Cornell Journey

Last year was my first year as a college student. After much anticipation, I was finally starting my university career and studying what I wanted. Classes started and everything was okay, but deep down I knew I wanted to study away from home. When graduating high school I had decided to stay, thinking it was the smartest decision since going to college is not the easiest transition and adding going to another country would have been too much for me. But two weeks into my first semester I decided to start my research.

It is my honor to nominate the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for the Ujamaa Community Award, recognizing its leadership and vision for a healthy community at Ujamaa and, ultimately, at Cornell. One of the Chapter’s main goals this year has been to expand students’ ability to participate in processes and issues that impact them. Last month, the Chapter welcomed the new Dean of Students, Dr. Vijay Pendakur, to speak at Ujamaa. During the event, students got a chance to hear about the new Dean’s goals and how they might affect the lives of students and communities of color. The discussion included a brainstorming session on ways to improve the student climate and experience at Cornell. As a result, many students were able to make substantive connections with higher-level administrators, including Associate Dean of Students/Director of Intercultural Programs Dr. Renee Alexander and Director of John Henrik Clarke Africana Library Mr. Eric Acree. Many students were also able to use the opportunity to begin or further pursuing making a difference in an issue meaningful to them.

Excellence motivates me to achieve, regardless of hardships and obstructions in my path. I put in effort and hard work to maintain a healthy balance with school, work, and extracurricular activities, so that I can continue to achieve. I have visited Rutgers University several times last year and each time lowered me in more and more. My first visit was to the Rutgers Camden Campus for Open House event. The information received sparked a curiosity inside of me to check out what the other campuses had to offer me. After doing much-needed research on what I really wanted to do with my life and career goals I began to have my eyes set on Rutgers University Newark Campus. I then made sure that I had to make it to the next upcoming Fall Open House to experience this wonderful campus for myself.

My eyes lit up as a saw all of the different clubs and organizations offered. I loved Quiz Bowl, Book Club, Dance, and Chess Club in high school and I would love to continue these in my college life. Furthermore, at Rensselaer I can pursue my personal interest in sustainability with like-minded students through Vasudha. I could quickly see that many people at Rensselaer share similar interests with me. This idea was further supported after my subsequent tour around campus. Students were studying outside or milling about in groups, but what drew my eye was a group of students in vests and holding nerf guns. I watched as they prepared for battle and then took off after one another, and I had to stop myself from asking if I could join. The people I met and the students I talked to showed me the fun and encouraging side of a school that is known for its academics. Spending a couple hours on campus allowed me to see the fun, studious, and unique nature of Rensselaer and I felt right at

HELLO GUYS!!! I have something veryyyyyyyy important to tell you! After all of my stressing about FAFSA ( Free Application Federal Student Aid) , Colleges, and Transportation, I decided to further my education at Rowan University. It took me a long time to make this decision because this wasn’t my first choice! My first choice/ dream school was LIU Brooklyn ( Long Island University) in Brooklyn, New York. I was recently accepted there and planned on attending there, but their out-of-state tuition was extremely high! Their tuition was $33,000 a year and poor black man like myself, cannot afford it. I really loved LIU because it's a great school, beautiful campus, and most of all, it's in New York. I had my whole planned before it even started,

In the 2013 fall semester, I entered Bronx Community College to pursue Dietetics and Nutrition Science, and by grace, I successfully graduate with an Associate in Science (A.S.) degree. Base on my dream, I already took all the nursing prerequisites courses. The prerequisites courses that I took are Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, English Composition I and II, Anatomy and Physiology I and II, Probability and Statistics, Human Development, General Chemistry I and II, Microbiology and Infant Control, History and many more.

This year Jen has written 66 letter of recommendations for student leaders for admittance into graduate schools, awards and scholarships. She continues to serve as the advisor for the Phi Kappa Alpha fraternity. She is a P&A Senate Alternate and the Professional Development & Recognition subcommittee where she has helped put on wellness brown bags and she is getting ready to serve on the selection subcommittee for the Outstanding P&A Unit Award. Jen and I co-developed a successful SIT professional staff retreat this year which focuses on connections, how to people arrive here, and goal setting. Jen also represents/ed SIT on the (1) all campus app RFP committee. She has participated in the all campus native-app RFP process, including creating a summary of needs, scoring proposals, attending and scoring presentation, and make recommendations; and, (2) Student Life Family Weekend Planning Committee where she successfully booked an Escape Rooms activity for families during the

With her heart set on Cornell she discovered that it still supported ROTC. After she met with an advisor and learned the requirements, her desire to attend only grew. She immediately began applying for NROTC. However another problem arose, what would she major in? She still wanted to be in the ag school, yet she needed some engineering background. After looking at majors, she found a combination of her love for biology and her desire to stay with engineering, biological engineering. This would set a foundation in engineering to prepare her for nuclear power school. Plus, she could stay in the agriculture college and double major in International Agriculture and Rural Development! There were also many clubs she participated in, one being Merlin’s Kids. This club taught her how to train service dogs and inspired her to start the organization Four Legged Brothers. This organization brought service dogs to orphanages to teach kids responsibility and that they are loved. Cornell took this young girl with big dreams and helped make them

During admission into Bronx Community College, I faced one of the most stressful predicaments academically. After applying, and having my transcripts mailed, I waited about two weeks before calling to ensure the transcripts were received. An admission counselor confirmed all transcripts were received and in the process of being reviewed. Five weeks later, during the first week of registration, I was informed one of the transcripts had been misplaced. Avoiding any further delay, I hand delivered the missing transcript. A few weeks later, I received a registration appointment. I was put on a list, received a number, and waited 9am to 5pm on a line for two days until my name was called. Unfortunately, while sitting with an advisor I found out

I hope this letters finds you well! In May I will complete my first year at Manhattan Christian College. My current major is family and counseling. Being here at MCC has strengthened my faith in so many ways. In high school I was able to participate in five mission trips throughout the United States. I have always had a passion to help people and in 2011 when I went on my first mission trip I had a yearning to go out of the country and help people. Although I was only a freshman in high school I didn’t put that dream on the back burner. I want to share with you a challenging ministry opportunity God has presented to me. During July 2016, I will be going to San Cristobal, Dominican Republic as an internship.

Upon my return to Penn State for my junior year, I soon came to realize that I need to find out a way to realize my dream. Based on some research I did, U-Mich just come straight to my mind, and I firmly bought a ticket to Ann Arbor. When I visited Ann Arbor this summer, I was impressed by the breath of offering of LSA, especially the Statistics departmen

Before joining GCU University, I studied at Suffolk Community College. Then I enrolled in Saint Joseph College where I only studied on weekends throughout the day. I liked the experience at Suffolk Community College because it was the place where I took my first English classes, and I learned the language. I took the academic courses towards to obtain an Associate degree. I did not like the experience at Saint Joseph. The instructors sent tasks and research to be done on week days. It was impossible for me to meet my classmates in the business hours because we all worked. My perception was the program had not been designed for an adult-oriented class because it functioned as a regular class. My favorite teacher was who taught me English Grammar

Today I don’t live a life of shame or insecurities. I try to my live life one day at a time and live in the moment. I try to focus on what’s in front of me and not dwell on the past. Enjoying the simple things that life has to offer me and being grateful for what I have, keeps me motivated to set and reach my goals. Remorse and embarrassment is no longer how I choose to describe my existence. I have taken responsibility for all my actions and dealt with all my consequences with integrity and dignity.

I may have not go to John Jay College during my undergrad, but I always knew that I will try to come back to John Jay during my graduate years.

The most exciting and connectedness I felt was the Cornell University Council, which I was on for 3 years. It was a way of reinforcing the connectedness that alums would feel...There was a discussion around students, faculty, and around curriculum...At the present time, my only involvement is through CBAA.