Undergraduate / 'dynamics of society and culture' Agriculture and Life - Cornell Supplement Essay [2]

It would mean a lot if someone could read over my essay. Thanks :)

How have your interests and related experiences influenced the major you have selected in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences?

For most of my life, I have always pondered the dynamics of society and culture. The way that culture determines the definition of a nation's society and name intrigues me in a way that other issues do not. Likewise, as I grew as a person I began to find an increasing interest in the sciences and how they relate to our world and development. For these reasons, I find majoring in Biology and Society as the perfect mix of my most prominent interests and passions.

Science has always stood out to me as a field of interest. I find its ability to constantly change and redefine itself via new discovery especially intriguing. Although I find all sciences fascinating, Biology has ultimately always taken the cake. I find that Biology possesses an extra layer that concerns life and our environment that is devoid in most other sciences. Ever since I was a child life had intrigued me. I loved the company of animals and enjoyed growing my own shrubs in my mother's small backyard garden. As a high school student, I was always consciously aware of environmental issues in our society and the detrimental harm arising in this day and age. These instances were when I knew I wanted to help make a difference in our environment and society as a whole. Another major turning point in my perspective began when I made the big move from New Zealand to America was hit with a major case of culture shock. I remember how sheer dialect would sometimes either make me giggle or frown in complete confusion. Throughout my transition, I grew to love and recognize more prominently the differences in our culture and society. Suddenly my interests in Biological life expanded to not only the environment, but socially as well.

During my transition into American life, I frequently found myself contemplating and comparing my two separate worlds. Numerous different matters fascinated me, but I soon realized theses fascinations brushed upon both Biology and Society with equal measure. I began to notice the political, ethical and economical issues that arise when biological innovation crosses roads with our socially divided world. It became clear to me near the end of my high school career that I wanted to incorporate my social and biological interests together. I recognize that understanding how organisms and the environment work is key, but I feel that understanding out social, political, and ethical differences is just as important.

In retrospect, my culture shock and shrub growing were mere beginnings of a passion that I find both intriguing and exciting. Everyone has the potential to change the world for better or worse, and their outlook will undeniably influence their future decisions. I want to be challenged and introduced to new perspectives, not only to grow academically, but also as a person. Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life offers me what most other schools cannot: the perfect merge of my two most passionate interests. I appreciate the opportunities that would be available to me and the guidance that I would receive under Cornell's guiding wing. I take confidence in majoring in Biology and Society because I feel I can definitely make a difference in our society when armed with the right perspective and knowledge. I recognize that Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life will prepare me to be the best that I can be in my pursuit of a successful career. I look forward to the future, and likewise the journey I face in reshaping my perspective and contributing to our society.