on LinkedIn<\/a> a while back. The responses ran the gamut of subjects\u2014from psychology to art history, poetry to nuclear science (and even pistolry!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cIt is so fascinating that so many of the mentions are about life skills, critical thinking, or wine tasting,\u201d engineering alum Kabeh Vaziri, PhD \u201905, observed. \u201cThese are skills that do not have a usefulness half-life, even in the age of AI.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a new academic year getting underway, Cornellians<\/em> is showcasing a sampling of those reflections\u2014along with images of Big Red classrooms from the University\u2019s early days to the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\nryan young \/ cornell university<\/figcaption>Hunter Phillips, MA \u201925, teaches English in fall 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe hope these varied reminisces will spark memories of your own studies. But we must admit to being particularly touched by a comment from another engineering grad, Dexter Wang \u201969, MEng \u201970.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really feel,\u201d he said, \u201cthat the sum of all my classes built my whole self and professional character.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What class did you find most life-changing? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n(Responses have been edited and condensed.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cHuman Bonding; this class started my journey to self-discovery, the most important lesson in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Li Tao \u201902<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cChemE 219, an introduction to chemical engineering, was life-changing for me. The course description appeared to be innocuous, but I found it to be more challenging than physical or organic chemistry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Allan Dean \u201992<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWine tasting! I learned about German Rieslings and they are still my favorite.<\/p>\nLori Rothman \u201978<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cDesign of Concrete Structures and Concrete Materials and Construction, taught by Kenneth Hover, PhD \u201984, a pioneer in concrete design and construction. Not only did they teach you chemistry, mechanics, design principles, and constructability considerations, they prepared you for a career in construction and structural engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final was the ultimate test of knowledge, stamina, and versatility. In the middle of the exam, a TA would come into the room\u2014frequently and sporadically\u2014to give you mini quizzes. You also received random phone calls from the big man himself, in which he would ask you an urgent question related to concrete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The skills gained were directly applicable to the real world, where construction projects inherently involve unanticipated changes that need to be resolved expediently and efficiently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Andrew Greubel \u201919<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption>Students in the 1940s use adding machines\u2014along with pencils and paper\u2014in a statistics class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA class on poetry from the Spanish Renaissance, which made me see modern poetry differently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Roberta Quance, PhD \u201982<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cBiology 281: Genetics, with the fly lab in the basement of Plant Science. Real, hands-on genetic mapping of fly genes taught us some serious science.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Jeremy Ward \u201994, PhD \u201900<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nAdult Education. This not only introduced me to theories but to education in the prison system. It gave me a new perspective on incarceration and the role education plays.<\/p>\nKatie Bower \u201919<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe graduate reactor design course taught by Peter Harriott \u201948, BChemE \u201949\u2014the hardest college course I\u2019ve ever taken. He drove home that engineering isn\u2019t perfect. Our exam questions were based on how many factors we considered in our design, like friction, site elevation, temperature variation, and heat losses. I remember one homework where he said, \u2018Here\u2019s a published, peer-reviewed article on reactor design. Find the mistake.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Wade Amos, MEng \u201995<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nLindsay France \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>Prof. Abby Drake with students in a 2019 intro evolutionary biology and diversity course.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cPrinciples of Macroeconomics. It was so damn easy, yet no one else seemed to think so. Given my path-of-least-resistance approach, I became an econ major. Doing what came easy led to a PhD and the life of an academic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Raul Barreto \u201989<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nIntroductory genetics! The five-credit course was very tough but inspired my passion for genetics to this day.<\/p>\nEsther Verheyen \u201988<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cSo many profoundly great literature classes, including American novels, Russian literature, and a course featuring Black women writers like Maya Angelou and Zora Neale Hurston. I will never forget the impact of \u2018I know why the caged bird sings.\u2019 Grateful for these well-taught and well-curated classes elevating human experiences through the beauty of language.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Courtenay Singer \u201991<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nsreang hok \/ cornell university<\/figcaption>Kevin Seaman teaches jiu-jitsu in Bartels Hall in 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cEconomics of Agricultural Geography with Daniel Sisler, PhD \u201962\u2014the best, most engaging teacher I\u2019ve ever been around. I reference things I learned in that class to this day. His ability to turn raw subject matter into relatable stories and anecdotes made it one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. I\u2019ll be forever indebted to Cornell for giving me exposure to such an amazing instructor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Scott Diehl \u201984<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nPsych 101, where I learned all about the power nap!<\/p>\nMillay Kogan \u201906<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe intro class on human behavior and education taught by Urie Bronfenbrenner \u201938. I was a biology major, but that class was so popular, everyone at Cornell wanted to take it. Talk about a dynamic teacher!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Ricardo Gonzalez-Rothi \u201973<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHome economics students in a lab; and \u201cCornell Chicken\u201d creator Bob Baker \u201943 leads a food science class.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cPlant Genetics and Breeding taught by Martha Mutschler-Chu. It was the first class I took where we were encouraged to work together and learn from each other. I became a TA the following year. It made me fall in love with the discipline and influenced my graduate education and career.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Maria Gallo \u201984<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nDendrochronology! Ended up working in the lab for the rest of my time at Cornell. Also absolutely loved all classes with Chris Monroe learning about ancient Egypt, nautical archaeology, etc.<\/p>\nKayla Marie Altland \u201910<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cIntro to Pistol. Taught at the firing range in the basement of Barton Hall by the Marine Corps sergeant who was stationed at Cornell for ROTC. I wasn\u2019t in ROTC, but decided to take the class because I thought it would be fun. Talk about a sobering experience. I learned some deeply moving things from that sergeant that have stuck with me for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Michael Reed \u201994<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nSreang Hok \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>Corey Ryan Earle \u201907 leads AMST 2001: The First American University in 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cAmerican history, taught by Clinton Rossiter \u201939, gave me a framework to question and explore original sources and question carefully accepted interpretations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Marc Gabel \u201958<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWomen at Work taught by Jennie Towle Farley \u201954, PhD \u201970, in ILR. Empowering!<\/p>\nPatty Garr \u201979<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cFreshman Composition with Sally Robinson, MFA \u201975, who went on to success as a TV writer. She encouraged me to write and introduced me to great writers with similar experiences to my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Jonathan Cohen \u201978, MFA \u201980<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption>First-years circa 1967.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cTaking three classes\u2014Evidence, Trial Practice, and Trial Techniques\u2014with Irving Younger paved the way for me to pursue a 40-year career as a litigator.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Stephen Kesselman \u201978, JD \u201981<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRacism in American Society. Transformative.<\/p>\nBradley Jaehn \u201997<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cJohn Hubbard\u2019s Multivariate Calculus class. I\u2019ve used that course ever since. In fact, I\u2019m teaching a similar course for STEM majors and future engineers myself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 A. Jorge Garcia \u201983<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nJoe Wilensky \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>Physics of Sailing students prepare a boat for launch with the help of a staff member in 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe Vertebrates class. Led me into medical research and the eventual discovery of the properties of GLP-1 while working at Harvard.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 George Holz \u201975<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nOrganic chem. Failed it, had to retake it over the summer, and ended up becoming a writer.<\/p>\nMiriam Ordo\u00f1ez Clifford \u201901<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGovernment, taught by Walter Berns; he gave insights into the danger of factions and how our founders worked to insulate our government from them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Alan Cody \u201969<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption>Prof. Alison Lurie in the classroom in 1977.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cU.S. History After 1945 with Richard Polenberg. Started my lifelong love of history. In retirement, I continue to audit history classes at Rutgers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Daniel Zaccardo \u201981<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nArchitecture 101. Still have my textbook; I put a note next to every place I\u2019ve visited. Really sparked my love of travel.<\/p>\nNikki VanEngel Willner \u201999<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cRacism in American Society, taught jointly by Donald Barr, professor of policy analysis and management, and James Turner, founder of the Africana Studies and Research Center. One white, one Black, both civil rights activists in the \u201960s. First time I was taught about the true history of our country. What wonderful, unique perspectives. In the very last class, they advised us that since we are no longer ignorant, we have a responsibility to speak up. \u2018Don\u2019t sell out! Do the right thing!\u2019 May they rest in peace. They inspired so many young people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Rose Cacioppo \u201989, BS \u201990<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nrare and manuscript collections<\/figcaption>A veterinary medicine lab in 1981.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cLabor law\u2014knew I wanted to be a lawyer. Statistics was among the most useful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Jennifer Lauro \u201984<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nBooks, Prints, and the Graphic Image with Peter Kahn. Launched me into a 40-year career in printing, publishing, and graphic design.<\/p>\nVictor Curran \u201971, BA \u201973<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cIntro to Art History, taught by Judith Bernstock \u201967. I developed a great appreciation for modern art.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Kenneth Plattner \u201996<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nJason Koski \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>Al fresco learning on the first day of the fall 2024 semester.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cRosemary Avery\u2019s Family Resource Management and Consumer Economics. This course defined the \u2018Human Ecology\u2019 approach for me: analyzing how individuals and systems optimize limited resources. She ingrained an interdisciplinary learning approach that I carry with me into every consulting engagement. Forever grateful!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Adrian Simmons \u201990, MBA \u201997<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nWhile I still consider myself an introvert by nature, Comm 201 brought me out of my shell to where I\u2019m very comfortable now speaking in public.<\/p>\nMichael Rapolas Jr. \u201994, BS \u201995<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cHistory of the Supreme Court with government professor Jeremy Rabkin \u201974 was my absolute favorite! Just so fascinating. He made the class a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Philip Ballard \u201900<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\njason koski \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>An art class in spring 2026.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe international agriculture course that included a trip to Mexico. Our professor, the legendary Robert McDowell, left a deep impression on me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Mickey McDermott, MS \u201982<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\nCalculus 101. After I conquered that, I knew I could conquer anything.<\/p>\nRonald Johnson \u201977<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cDiseases of Trees and Shrubs. Wayne Sinclair, PhD \u201962, helped me develop a treatment for sudden oak death.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Ralph Zingaro \u201977<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cStatics. After that, I was pretty sure I\u2019d be a structural engineer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Nicholas Coyle \u201917<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nSreang Hok \/ Cornell University<\/figcaption>Focusing on fungi in the popular Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll of the education minor courses! I still use those lessons every day of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Veronika Drozdova \u201920<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nCreative writing with Dan McCall taught me the magic of words.<\/p>\nCharles Schlumberger \u201976<\/strong><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\u201cFreshman seminar in Russian literature. My very first grade at Cornell was a C-minus. I thought I was a hotshot, and it brought me back to reality in both school and life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Adriane Simmons \u201985<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nRare and Manuscript Collections<\/figcaption>Prof. Carl Sagan explains the mysteries of the cosmos in the 1970s.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cAfter my second year in architecture school, I went on a summer studio with Prof. John Shaw and architecture historian Chris Otto. We traveled all over central Europe looking at the work of 18th-century Baroque architect Balthasar Neumann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I literally soaked in the architecture with my heart and soul. At the end of each day, my fingers were smothered with pencil graphite from the hours of sketching. The summer ended with four weeks on a boat sailing the Adriatic coast of Yugoslavia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I returned to Ithaca, it was as if I had acquired superpowers. I could finally \u2018see\u2019 architecture and \u2018speak\u2019 architecture\u2014life changing. That summer and that incredible architecture school fed my 35 years of practice around the globe as well as teaching my own students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 Peter Choi \u201990<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Top: Prof. Vance Christian \u201961, MS \u201965<\/em>, teaches the famed Intro to Wines course. (Rare and Manuscript Collections)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nPublished August 24, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What class did you find most life-changing?<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Your alma mater asked you to share the courses that had the biggest impact on you\u2014and you aced the assignment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":75768,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Your alma mater asked you to share the courses that had the biggest impact on you\u2014and you aced the assignment","alumni_hub_syml_posts":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[229],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-75759","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumni"],"yoast_head":"\n
From Composition to Concrete: Your Most Life-Changing Classes - Cornellians | Cornell University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Your alma mater asked you to share the courses that had the biggest impact on you\u2014and you aced the assignment\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/life-changing-classes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Composition to Concrete: Your Most Life-Changing Classes - Cornellians | Cornell University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Your alma mater asked you to share the courses that had the biggest impact on you\u2014and you aced the assignment\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/life-changing-classes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Cornellians | Cornell University\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Cornellians\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-08-24T13:20:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-24T13:24:04+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/Christian-teaching-wines-to-350-students_16-9_crop.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"900\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Beth Saulnier\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@WeCornellians\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@WeCornellians\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Beth Saulnier\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Beth Saulnier\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/32fea64e8c64bb984ed5809675634100\"},\"headline\":\"From Composition to Concrete: Your Most Life-Changing Classes\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-08-24T13:20:34+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-08-24T13:24:04+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1888,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/Christian-teaching-wines-to-350-students_16-9_crop.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Alumni\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/alumni.cornell.edu\\\/cornellians\\\/life-changing-classes\\\/\",\"name\":\"From Composition to Concrete: Your Most Life-Changing Classes - 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