The Physics Family

By: Sarah Marie Bruno '16

Cornell is a big school. When I arrived on campus as a freshman, I had no idea how I would possibly decide where to eat dinner, let alone what to study. Over time, though, I've found my niche here, and this big school has started to feel like a much smaller community.

There are many places to find this small community. You can find it in your dorm hall, your freshman writing seminar, an a cappella group or a sports team, just to name a few. What I didn’t expect as a freshman was the incredible sense of warmth I would soon find at Cornell. (Cue the weather jokes—really, the winters aren’t that bad). I immediately felt welcomed by my peers, by upperclassmen, and by professors who were all eager to share their small slice of Cornell with me.

In particular, I found my home in the physics department. My major in physics has given me a group of friends I can truly call my second family. The incredible sense of community is not limited to the undergraduate population—professors are approachable and friendly, graduate students make themselves available to offer advice and answer questions, and everyone in the department would be thrilled to discuss their research for hours (myself included). My research group (I work in cosmology) is more than just a group of people who work together. Everyone supports each other in their extracurricular activities, from cheering at soccer matches to attending concerts.

The Society of Physics Students also fosters a sense of community among physicists, hosting events to connect undergrads with grad students and professors. We even celebrated Halloween in the style of physics. The department celebrates the winter holidays, too, in our special style, complete with physics-themed carols, physics bingo, a delicious potluck, and hilarious skits.

It's exciting to be surrounded by people who are so happy to be doing exactly what they are doing, whether that is physics or work in another field of study. I have found that people who enjoy their work always find ways to celebrate that work and share it with others. I know this type of community does not exist everywhere, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of the physics department at Cornell.