Fall break means that I have been here at Cornell for two months. It is unbelievable how fast time flies. It is said that the happy time always flies fast. Indeed, although I have experienced difficulties and adversities, my life has been full of breathtaking adventure, ceaseless learning, and refreshing change.
The one-month transitional period during which I tried my best to adjust to the language, people, and life here was challenging yet rewarding. Although I could figure out what the teachers were saying in class, I have no clue of the after-class talking among American students. When hanging out with English-speaking friends, I would have to listen and think carefully before adding to the conversation without looking awkward. However, most people here are nice, and they would listen to my mildly accented English patiently when having a conversation with me, either on the way to school or during meals.
The only thing is that although I have got more and more used to hanging out with Americans, I still cannot escape from the gargantuan “Chinese circle” in Cornell. If people still had the courage and energy to reach out to people from different cultures during the first few weeks of school, they would prefer to stay in their comfort zones and sit with their fellow Chinese friends right now, when they unload all the pressure from life and schoolwork. Nevertheless, it is not that people are afraid to reach out; it is that they have found it is impossible to immerse completely in those people’s lives.
In other situations, such as in-class discussion, things got better. In the first few classes, I had a hard time keeping up with the discussion and debate, and was unconfident of my speaking. However, with time flying by, I got more and more used to the pace of class and the students’ pattern of answering questions. At the same time, I tried my best to finish and dissect the reading and homework ahead of time in order to be more efficient and effective in contributing to the discussion. As a result, things became even better than I expected due to my personal experience as a student from China. By offering some examples and perspectives unique to China, I could sometimes even stir up a huge debate.
How to balance academics and activities was also challenging. The variety of activities here at Cornell is unbelievable. More than two hundred organizations showed up just in Club Fest, and it seemed that everyone new here was overwhelmed. I was passionate about all kinds of activities as usual, but with so much academic coursework, I would have to give up lots of activities. The choice was really hard. I would not have devoted myself to one club had I not been really attracted to it. So I spent several weeks trying to figure out which club and extracurricular activity was really for me. Meanwhile, I would have to stay up late and boost up efficiency to keep up with my study. Fortunately, I have made some hard but rational choices and my life is getting more and more balanced and healthy.
The beauty of Cornell campus is not bragged. With its gorgeous waterfalls, colorful autumn leaves, and stretching hills, the campus enthralled everyone to say that it is the most beautiful campus ever. Indeed, Cornell is both intellectually and scenically stimulating.
Sitting on the grass on the Libe Slope watching the best ever evening glow, I could foresee that the four years of college would be life-changing.