Amanda Gaggioli
Archaeology & Classics
West Chicago, IL
What is your main Cornell extracurricular activity -- why is it important to you?
Outside of academics, I am a member of the women's varsity soccer team. My experiences as a Division I athlete are important because they allowed me to satisfy my competitive and ambitious spirit on the soccer field, while also pushing me beyond my physical and mental limits.
What was your most profound turning point while at Cornell?
I have had a few profound turning points while at Cornell but I will share just one. When I started courses in my first semester at Cornell, I was afraid to express my thoughts in seminars that require a lot of participation. I shared my uneasiness with a professor after giving an apprehensive presentation, and she provided some of the best advice I have ever received, which continues to give me the confidence to share my ideas but to also embrace my quiet thinking.
What do you value about your liberal arts education?
Overall, the experiences and coursework I have encountered within the humanities at Cornell has contributed to many skills that will be useful for the future and real world. The ability to take a variety of courses, while also engaging in-depth within my own majors, contributed to the many ways in which I think about world issues and can solve problems from different angles.
