Javier Agredo

Linguistics & Classics

Miami, FL

What is your main extracurricular activity--why is it important to you?

My extracurricular activities and priorities have changed over the years but I would say any club I've been in that supports social awareness or social justice. It's always important to use your voice to help spark change in the world.

Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most? How or why?

Most professors and advisors I've had have profoundly influenced me in one way or another. My academic advisors Michael Weiss and Athena Kirk, Sarah Murray who made me love linguistics, Alan Nussbaum who first inspired me to start studying philology, Catherine Appert who introduced me to a wide range of music that I still listen to to this day, Riché Richardson who taught one of the most fun classes I've ever taken, Gunhild Lischke who taught me the language that I'll very likely be using a lot in grad school (German)... and many, many more. I wish I could name them all!

If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?

Take plenty of fun classes and study abroad if you can! Undergrad is the best time to pursue these opportunities and you'll come out with a better understanding of our world. Also--take a music course or join a musical ensemble! It'll help you unwind and make friends but also get your brain going and help you retain information. Trust me, it works.