Name
Jonathan

Major
Animal Science

Concentration
Asian- American Studies

Hometown
Fresh Meadows, NY

Describe your experience at CALS

To be totally honest, it's been incredible. Being a transfer student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has been a very rewarding and productive one. I've transferred to and from two other colleges before I decided to make the move to CALS at Cornell, and now I can finally say that I've found my niche. Being a student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences affords me many opportunities and I actually have fun taking classes. The professors really know what they're talking about and they all take time out to talk with their students and help them out if they're in need. The advising team at CALS also does an extraordinary job in helping students figure out where they want to go in their studies and helps them plan their future for even when their college career is over. As someone who is currently Pre-Vet, that's extremely important. I've had a hard time trying to find my place at a specific school, and now that I've found what I've been looking for I can safely say that I definitely feel like I belong here.

Advice to a prospective student looking at CALS

For those of you thinking about making the move to CALS, be sure to talk with some of the counselors, advisors and students at the college. You will gain valuable insight into how CALS works, what courses and majors are offered and you will gain a stable foundation for friendship and working relationships that are important later on. Also, if you can, take the time to visit the campus and get a feel for the student life there. Cornell sports a beautiful campus, and you can only really experience what it is like once you are there. Not only will you be surrounded by the wonderful atmosphere of the campus, faculty, students and staff, but you will literally get to taste some of the things that Cornell is known for--like the amazing ice cream you can find at the Dairy Bar!

Activities

President of Asian Pacific Americans for Action, member of the Cornell Asian Pacific Student Union (CAPSU), mentor for Promoting Enriching Experiences and Relationships (PEER), member of the Cornell Filipino Association

Hands-on Experience

I have had the opportunity to work very closely with some of the animals present at some of Cornell's barns located on campus and around Ithaca due to the comprehensive structure of the classes in my major. I've had the chance to learn how to manage swine at Cornell's swine farm, take a gander at some of the exotic avian species that Cornell has in its aviary, and even got to participate in Cornell's annual Livestock Show. For one of my classes I had the chance to stick my arm inside a fistulated cow and feel how the many compartments in the ruminant's stomach were. It was a somewhat disgusting but an extremely fun experience!

In addition to my Animal Science related experiences, my time working with some of the Asian cultural groups and political groups on campus has opened my eyes to many opportunities. As President of Asian Pacific Americans for Action, the only pan-Asian political organization on campus, I find it very important to focus and discuss issues that relate to the Asian American community. This past year I led work on a bid for Cornell to hold a national conference for Asian American issues that attracts more than 5,000 people, called the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU). Also, as a liaison for the Cornell Filipino Association, this past summer I was elected to be a National Director for an East-Coast based Filipino organization called the Filipino Intercollegiate Networking Dialogue (FIND Inc.). Right now I oversee most of the student-run Filipino organizations in many of the schools in the upstate New York area and help them connect and coordinate events with each other. I am currently working with the other National Directors on two upcoming national conferences that will be held to educate students about contemporary Filipino issues that affect the Filipino community worldwide.