| Search Chronicle Online | |
May 24, 2010  Lindsay France/University Photography Senior profile: Mony Sarkar
Major: Human development, education minor Main Cornell extracurricular activity -- why is it important to you?
During my first semester of freshman year, I joined REACH (Raising Education Attainment Challenge) to tutor young children in local schools and quickly grew conscious of educational achievement gaps. It is a humbling experience to know that I'm receiving an Ivy League education 15 minutes away from students who struggle to meet academic standards. I have also been a REACH team leader and board member since sophomore year, which allowed me to watch the organization evolve and mobilize enthusiastic Cornellians to mentor children in our community. While at Cornell, what other accomplishments/activities are you most proud of?
I love being a peer adviser for Cornell Career Services and a peer counselor in EARS (Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service). I am inspired when I meet students with such diverse aspirations and work with dedicated and supportive staff members. I also dabbled in acting for Bengali Student Association (BSA) Cultural Night and have continued coordinating BSA events with some of the most good-natured people I know on campus. Who or what at Cornell influenced your Cornell education the most?
While taking Professor Anthony Ong's Positive Psychology course, I started focusing on strength-based perspectives in daily situations. I remain a closeted optimist, but always look for "what works." Professor Ong's charming wit and continual support of my endeavors made me more open to reach out to other professors as well. Did any of your beliefs or interests change during your time at Cornell?
I love Ithaca's landscape and weather! I initially didn't enjoy the heavy rainfall or the lack of tall buildings. It's now refreshing to have the wind blowing against me as I walk through wide-open fields, down the slope during sunset, by flowing water, or under the stars. Your most profound turning point while at Cornell?
In my junior year, I interned at a private high school in Bushwick (Brooklyn) established for low-income students through Human Ecology's Urban Semester Program. I was shocked to discover that the ninth-graders' realities were shaped by neighborhood gang fear/violence, housing instability and weak academic foundations. Yet the 41 students I taught remained resilient and seized every opportunity to ask me about my undergraduate experiences. Ever since, I knew I wanted to empower urban youth as a career goal. Also, I am a Bangladeshi native, have grown up in a traditional Hindu household, come from a working-class community and am the first person in my family to be educated in the United States. In recognizing my family's continual sacrifices for my success, I often prefer to weigh their input more than my own when making decisions. Additionally, my multidimensional background allows me to contribute my unique perspectives in any environment while continuously learning about values others hold. What Cornell-related scholarships/special financial benefits did you receive? Were any of these critical to your ability to come to Cornell?
As a New York State Equal Opportunity Program (EOP) student, I received tremendous financial support that allowed me to attend an institution of such high caliber. What are your plans for next year; where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Next year, I will be a high school math teacher in Washington, D.C., as a Teach for America corps member. I then intend to pursue a master's in counseling. Within 10 years, I hope my friends and I open up a nightclub (tentatively called Clubb Sandwichh) and a vegan restaurant. |
