A MESSAGE FROM A COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGY STUDENT
Leona Sharpstene | Human Development | New York I was fortunate to have a very focused career goal to guide me during my college search – I aspire to be an attorney in the Family Law system. None of the colleges I had visited stood out as helping me on the path to this goal until I visited Cornell. The more I read about Human Ecology, the more convinced I was that Human Development was a perfect fit for my interests. The Law, Psychology, and Human Development concentration within the major allows me to take an interdisciplinary approach as I study legal issues and childhood development, and how they interact. Another aspect of Human Ecology that excited me was the faculty research in the exact areas that I wanted to pursue, specifically, Dr. Stephen Ceci’s work with children and the law. I read excerpts of his work during the application process and am currently a research assistant for his lab. I discovered that I am passionate about research and have solidified my interest in pursuing a career working in Family Law through working closely with Dr. Ceci and his graduate students. In Dr. Ceci’s research lab, I am leading a team of undergraduates on a project concerning children’s memory and its implications for the law. I am enjoying making connections to the Ithaca community through outreach to local preschools, afterschool programs, and community centers. Through the Human Ecology Ambassador program, I have the pleasure of sharing my passion for Cornell and the College of Human Ecology with prospective applicants. Seeing how much enthusiasm these students have for their academic interests and applications to the College reminds me that Human Ecology is truly a unique place that I am lucky to call home! I am also a Career Assistant in the Career Exploration Center where I help my peers build their career development skills. Along the way, I am learning valuable skills such as critiquing résumés and administering mock interviews, which is a great benefit to my own career development as well.
Outside of the classroom, I am a member of the Big Red Bands and a student writer for the Cornell Review, both of which expose me to differing viewpoints and diversity on campus. One of the more striking differences I’ve noticed between Human Ecology students and those in other colleges is our focus on issues that are related to the human experience. For example, in law classes I’ve taken, many students are content to accept problematic laws and well-known biases at their face value. However, I often find myself considering research questions related to the issue. Human Ecology classes have shown me that looking closer at things we take for granted and constructing the right research question can help us to overcome even those issues that seem to be the most insurmountable. Human Ecology is a unique and welcoming community full of advisors, professors, and students who are willing to help and want to see you succeed. I have never felt afraid to approach a Human Ecology professor to discuss class material or my interests. As students, we also support each other, forming study groups for difficult exams or collaborating on group projects. I truly believe that with its wide range of interdisciplinary programs and supportive atmosphere, any student who spends a bit of time researching could find their place in Human Ecology!