Celia P. Konowe ’21
Which faculty member influenced you the most?
Thomas Fleischman (History). I took many courses with Prof Fleischman, and the passion with which he teaches and the interdisciplinary tangents he explores were eye opening. His mind seems to move 100 miles a minute, but he brings students along, always listening to ideas and supporting creativity and communication. He teaches with an impressive depth of topic, and some courses, like Hear UR (the podcasting course) combine invaluable historical analysis with hands-on, technical learning in a way that can't be overlooked. His courses changed my outlook on how to work in the environmental field and how I view the world around me.
What’s your favorite place on campus?
It's impossible to really pick one, but I can't deny that Todd Union is a standout. Aside from being both a theatre and radio kid, which put me in Todd almost every day, I love the history of the building. The many roles it's taken on over the decade amaze me, and I love finding remnants of its old life (like the meatlocker recording studios in WRUR and the original fireplaces in the blackbox theatre). The building seeps with history and importance, but also feels warm and lived in. I spent countless late nights thee, making lifelong friends and creating art, all of which I will never forget.
If you could relive one day on campus, what would it be?
My first day on campus as a first year. As a legacy student (and a die-hard one, at that), my love for UR was never short of obsessive. Unlike many of my first year friends, I had been to campus every year for Mel Weekend, and I knew the campus by heart. I knew which clubs I wanted to join, and I had the utmost confidence that I'd have an incredible time in college. However, that first day is still always something special. It was the first time I saw UR through a new light, this time as a student. I met new people and learned of new academic and extracurricular opportunities I hadn't considered. It was about actually bringing my love for Rochester to life, and truly experiencing what the university had to offer. It was the beginning of something so special, and I wish I could recapture every little moment.
What advice would you give an incoming student?
Never, ever, ever stop trying new things. Not only is college the best time to try new things (you'll always have a support system, whether you're in a challenging course or studying on the other side of the world), but Rochester offers so many incredible opportunities. Even though I came in with set majors/minors, I found new disciplines that have changed the trajectory of my life. I had the privilege of studying abroad in one of the most fragile ecosystems in the world, despite not knowing much of the language or the culture. It will always be impossible to try everything, but the beauty of Rochester is you have the ability (and are encouraged) to tackle as much as you'd like—all with a support system and alongside other students who have diverse interests and curiosity like you.