As a soon-to-be graduate of Cornell University, where I will receive a Bachelor of Science in Communication, I have much to be proud of. While I've grown tremendously over the past four years, I will always remember my first big achievement of being accepted to this Ivy League university.

 

Growing up in Andover, MA, a close knit and education oriented town just north of Boston, I was always motivated to be successful―though I'm not sure I knew what that meant at the time. Being surrounded by such prestigious schools in the Boston area, it had been my goal to get into one myself. Never feeling pressure from my parents, I took it upon myself to shine in school. My work paid off. In addition to my stellar academic standing, my skills on the water as a competitive rower caught the attention of the Cornell Women's Rowing coach, Liz Dennison, and in December of 2011, I was recruited.

 

When I arrived at Cornell, I was unsure of what I wanted to study. I have always been interested in media and its real life connection to powerful social influence. Now, as a senior Communication major, I couldn't be more ecstatic with the path I've chosen. As a student athlete here, I've learned to manage my time efficiently in order to excel at practice, in the classroom, and at work. 

 

As my college career comes to an end and I enter the next chapter of my life, I can look back on my time at Cornell―on all I have accomplished―and conclude that I've achieved my goals. Success to me now means that I've not only thoroughly enjoyed my course of study, but that I will leave Cornell prepared and excited to embark on new opportunities. I look forward to continuing my journey of discovery through my passion of communication, media, marketing, and sales.