Shelby Holland: 'Don’t worry about knowing exactly what to do with your life'

Shelby Holland

History

Westchester County, NY

What, if any, research projects did you participate in at Cornell?

I have written various research papers at Cornell for my history and government classes, but the one that I am most proud of is was written for the class, United States as a Developing Nation. I explored the different ways that capitalism developed in antebellum America and suggested that “ethnic cultures, class-consciousness, social conflict, immigration, literature and political interests bolstered the United States economy to new heights.” The United States went from an agrarian economy relying on slave labor to a diversified one focused on specialization. As a former economics major, I am interested in looking at how the economy and capitalism intersect with cultural and social issues. I believe capitalistic pursuits are connected to people’s political interests and social environment.

What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?

Last semester, I took Intro to Visual Storytelling and had the opportunity to write and direct my own short film. In high school, I took filmmaking and broadcast journalism classes, but I hadn’t had the chance to do any hands-on filmmaking since. Assistant Professor Dehanza Rogers’ class was very hands-on and more technical than what I had learned in high school. The process of making a film is very time-consuming and intense, so to plan, write, direct and edit my own short film was an amazing experience. On my film’s production day, I was so excited to see my vision executed and have my classmates supporting me along the way. And, as someone who wants to go into this industry, I treasure the learning experience, friendships I made along the way, and the ability to tell a story while honing my craft.

If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?

Don’t worry about knowing exactly what to do with your life. When I reflect about my time at Cornell, it has truly been a journey and I have embraced the ups and downs. I came in pre-law as an economics and government double major. Now, I am a history major planning to work in business after graduation and, eventually, in the media and entertainment industry. Having a plan is important, but it’s OK to change your mind and explore your various interests. Everything will work out in the end.