Daniel Veronese-Paniagua
Biological Sciences
Bayonne, NJ
What accomplishments/activities are you most proud of while at Cornell?
During my experience as an undergraduate researcher, there was a nine-month period filled with stressful days spent in the lab. For that whole time, I tried several approaches and methods to obtain the data necessary to move onto the next step in my honors thesis project. After so many failures, my advisor and I were very close to throwing in the towel and begin planning for other potential projects. However, I had asked for a bit more time and was given two more weeks. As the deadline approached, I fulfilled my proudest accomplishment: getting the necessary results to continue working on my project. This experience showed me that if you keep trying your hardest and keep thinking of different ways to solve a problem, then you will eventually fulfill your goal. That was, perhaps, one of the most important lessons I obtained at Cornell.
Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most? How or why?
Taekwondo has had a huge impact on my academic life. It taught me the importance of time management, balance and perseverance. To be successful at Cornell, you must be able to handle multiple tasks at a given moment. Cornell demands time and careful care of all tasks it gives you. There will be times when certain events drop you down on the floor. Taekwondo gave me the skills to avoid such drops as much as possible and to get up if I ever found myself in that situation.
If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?
Explore all opportunities given to you. Cornell is an institution filled with great experiences and chances for you to grow as a person. Take advantage of its resources; they will always lead you to a new path that may turn out to be the best route you take in life.
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