Cornell College of Arts and Sciences
Describe your intellectual interests, their evolution, and what makes them exciting to you. Tell us how you will utilize the academic programs in the College of Arts and Sciences to further explore your interests, intended major, or field of study.
« Et toi, mademoiselle, comment t'appelles-tu ? »
« Je m'appelle Gianna. »
« Dis-moi, Gianna, quelles sont vos expectations dans ce course ? »
« Je veux parler Français couramment. »
« Voila, le vrai challenge. »
It's always nerve-wracking to have a new teacher; one never knows what to expect. In ninth grade my class learned on the first day of school that there would be a new French teacher, which seemed like a glimmer of hope to my downtrodden colleagues and me. The French teacher from the previous year would never hesitate to remind us how incompetent we were. I was wary of this new teacher who had taken her place, and I prayed to god that the evil French teacher bug hadn't bitten him, too. Fortunately, from the minute I stepped into my first French class with Mr. Infantini, I felt like I was in the right place at the right time. From si clauses to eight different tenses of verbs, I learned so much more in that class in a few months than in any other class I'd had for years. I read Madame Bovary and L'Étranger in French on my own, listened to Édith Piaf and Stromae, and got used to the rolling of eyes every time I requested we watch our family movie with French subtitles. I was absorbed. Moreover, as I was learning French, French was teaching me life lessons and the importance of self-motivation, listening, humility, humor, responsibility and passion. I began to really enjoy French class, but surprisingly, I even enjoyed making mistakes for the sake of remembering what expressions not to use, like the time I tried to say "I am alone", but "Je suis seule" came out "Je suis soul", meaning that I was intoxicated, which worried my teacher, to say the least.
As my interest in French grew, I started to ask more questions in class about the things I had read in books and heard in songs, and eventually had to come after school so as to not waste the time of others in my class. I became a completely independent student, which enabled me to teach myself and retain information whenever I came across something undiscovered. I was and still am in my own world of this language, which is especially beneficial for learning any subject. However, there's still something missing. Cornell is the one place where I feel like I can truly grow as a student. I have proven myself through my zeal and motivation to learn, and now all I need is the right tool to push me along the path of success. One of the biggest issues for students my age is the challenge of finding employment after graduation. Fortunately, one of Cornell's best attributes is its occupational placement services, which rank 14th in the nation according to the Princeton Review. It is especially important for students interested in International Affairs to be able to take advantage of networking, internships, job interviews and other preparation in order to go out and succeed in the real world.
Before I ever really met French, I wanted to be a microbiologist; I love the study of living things, especially those most foreign to me. Now looking back, I guess that's also where my love for French came from. French is so sensual, emotional, expressive; it has its own lifeblood, and it may sound trite, but I feel so whole when I speak it. In addition, it takes the right instruction to help a student reach his or her potential. Because of Cornell's numerous opportunities, I know I will thrive, and be lucky to be a member of the one place where "any person can find instruction in any study".
Thanks for reading. it needs a lot of help
