Grace Elmore
English & Religious Studies
Coatesville, Ind.
What was your favorite class and why?
Without a doubt, my favorite Cornell class was ASIAN 3331 - Opt Out, Tune In: Hermits, Pilgrims and Dharma Bums, from East Asia to Ithaca with Doctor Jane-Marie Law. The course was taught seminar style (there were about 12 students) in Dr. Law’s Rockefeller office, where we met twice per week at 9 a.m. around one large table, had tea together, and discussed poetry of recluse monks and nuns, the Beat movement in the 1960's, and social upheaval today. As much as I enjoyed the syllabus content of this course, the reason the class stuck with me had much more to do with the timing of my taking it and who was there alongside me. I took Hermits and Pilgrims in the spring 2024 semester, a time of campus (and global) turmoil when, among other things, students were cautious about engaging with one another. Dr. Law did not let her office-classroom or students fall victim to this. She made it blatantly clear that her space was one where we could discuss and ask questions about world events without judgment or fear, which fostered some of the most productive conversations I have had about global conflict. Simultaneously, Dr. Law gave us room to feel the emotions we needed to feel about the state of our campus and world and find strength in our relationships with each other. Finally, Dr. Law created mandatory “reading groups” within our class, which would receive a take-home tea set and tea leaves under the expectation that we would meet weekly outside of class to read and discuss course content together. At first, this seemed like a headache, but it quickly became one of the best “social experiments” I’ve been a part of. I made three new friends whom I wouldn’t have otherwise, and we had so many wonderful conversations and memories together.
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
My main and extracurricular activity (and the one I’ve been most consistently involved with) is a club called Best Buddies. Cornell’s chapter is part of a larger international organization and focuses on fostering 1:1 friendships between Cornell students and Ithaca community members with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDDs). This group is important to me because it has allowed me to build some of my most secure and authentic friendships. Much of college is characterized by “finding your people,” which can be a stressful and emotionally draining process, but I have known from day one that I have a community in Best Buddies, via both students and IDD members. (Plus, I wouldn’t know how to cook half of my staple meals if it weren’t for my buddy YuYu, making our friendship absolutely indispensable.)
What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?
My Arts & Sciences education enhanced my already secure understanding of the value of being well-rounded in interests and knowledge. More importantly, though, it showed me just how far that well-roundedness can take you if you learn how to embrace it. The people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had through the College of Arts & Sciences led me to summers working in sustainable agriculture in the Galapagos Islands, teaching young students in Ithaca about art and researching museum collection ethics in New York City, and identifying soil micro-arthropods in a lab in Bradfield. It introduced me to a travel-bugged TA who would eventually bring me on a group trip to Iceland. It taught me about Spanish, world history, environmental science, honeybees and more. I learned enough to walk away with degrees in literatures in English and religious studies.
All of these experiences have come with new skills, each with its own value. But more than anything, learning in this environment showed me that if you’re willing to be a sponge for knowledge, listen to people’s advice and stories, step out of your comfort zone, and put in the effort you hope to receive, the world really is your oyster; Arts & Sciences gave me the ability to do so.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of?
My most prideful Cornell accomplishments are twofold: Since August 2023, I have written a biweekly sex, intimacy and education column called Let’s Talk About Sex. Also, during my sophomore year, Cornell supported me in starting my small business, GraacePaints.
I take pride in writing my column for a few reasons: First, I believe everyone should write for the Conell Sun at some point in their student career to gain an understanding of how important and powerful student journalism is. Second, the column has been a way for me to connect with my classmates, reduce stigma, pass on critical information and be creative. I feel so lucky to have access to a platform that helps me tackle such an important and under-discussed topic on college campuses, and I am proud to have done so for so much of my time at Cornell.
I am also continuously fulfilled by my journey with art and how Cornell became a part of that experience for me. When I began sharing watercolor prints of campus buildings, Cornell took note and lifted me up in so many ways. They shared my work and gave me a platform to be creative, which led to commissions and interest I never could have garnered on my own. I am proud of this for many reasons, but mostly beause I gave myself a way to know that I am not just a number to Cornell, but a student who is noticed, valued and supported.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.Read more about the Class of 2025.
