A short welcome/advice speech by Daniela Rus (MIT CSAIL Director and Cornell alumna) to Cornell’s incoming Class of 2028. She briefly recounts her positive Cornell experience, emphasizes embracing opportunities, stepping outside comfort zones, building relationships and networks, maintaining academic balance and mental/physical health, and staying curious; closes with congratulations and well-wishes.
Chapters
Hello everyone. I'm Daniela Rus, proud Cornell graduate and currently Director of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab at mit. Congratulations on being admitted to Cornell and on starting your journey there. I spent four amazing years at Cornell. Rich, transformative and memorable. My career was shaped by the professors at Cornell and I formed lifelong friendships. As you embark on this exciting new chapter of your lives, my advice is to help you make the most of your time at Cornell. Embrace opportunities. Because Cornell offers a wealth of opportunities for cutting edge research projects to many different student activities. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Build connections because your peers, your professors and the alumni network are invaluable resources. Make lifelong friendships and take time to build meaningful relationships. I also want to tell you that balance is key and academics are very important. But don't forget to take care of your mental and physical health. And finally, stay curious. Keep your curiosity alive and never stop asking questions. Best of luck and enjoy every moment of your Cornell experience. Yeah. Excellent. We are proud of you guys.
