Students enjoy in-person activities around the Arts Quad during March Wellness Days
Extraordinary Journeys, the Class of 2021

A year like no other

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences are curious, creative and inspired. Despite a second year of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, seniors have continued to conduct research, expand their intellectual pursuits and create deep friendships and memories. Explore the extraordinary journeys of this year’s graduates and see how their paths have prepared them not only for a successful and meaningful career, but also for a life well lived. Photos this year come from the students themselves.

Raisa Kochmaruk

'People want to help you find your path'

Extraordinary Journeys
Sydney Eisenberg

'Cherish every moment you have here'

Extraordinary Journeys
Sarah Sachar

'I felt as though I had found a poetic community'

Extraordinary Journeys
Aerial view of Cornell's Arts Quad, showing green lawn and grey paved paths
Jason Koski/Cornell University Cornell's Arts Quad
Ruby French

'I have a greater sense of urgency about the world'

Extraordinary Journeys
Maximillian Chen

'I realized my goal was to do something impactful'

Extraordinary Journeys
girl with dog

'I am proud of the self-knowledge I've gained'

Extraordinary Journeys
man at organ

'The musical environment here is beyond imagination'

Extraordinary Journeys
girl on camel

'Instead of fearing change, I look forward to it '

Extraordinary Journeys
Isabella Paternostro

'Winning this fellowship was my ultimate goal'

Extraordinary Journeys
Emily Hurwitz

'I just published my first first-author paper'

Extraordinary Journeys
Conor Hodges

' "Why" is never a bad word'

Extraordinary Journeys
Girl receiving award
Annabel Young, left, receives the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program's Merit Leadership Award from Urszula Piasta-Mansfield, the program's associate director

'I fell in love with books again'

Extraordinary Journeys
Amina Kilpatrick

'I understand that learning is a forever process'

Extraordinary Journeys
Alexis Ren

'Cornell has shown me I am worthy of dreaming big'

Extraordinary Journeys