Keyra Navas: ‘Volunteering in prisons allows me to devote my time to making prisoners feel heard, respected and seen’

Keyra Navas

History 

Bronx, NY

What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?

The most valuable skills that I have acquired through my education include critical analysis, empathy, polished writing, and active listening.

What is your main extracurricular activity--why is it important to you?

My main extracurricular activity is volunteering in prisons. It is one of the most important things I am currently doing with my life because it allows me to devote my time to making prisoners feel heard, respected, and seen.

How have you changed since you first arrived at Cornell? What have you discovered about yourself?

One of the main things that has changed is my understanding of social responsibility. Unlike freshman year, I now realize that we are all complicit in each other's well-being and that we ought to act in ways that preserve others' humanity.