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Cornell is Gorges

By 2013 Most Valuable Student scholar and Elks Scholar Advisory Board member Nate Baker
Nate Baker, 2013 MVS scholar sponsored by Tyrone, Pa., Lodge No. 212, is the freshman representative on the Elks Scholar Advisory Board and new to college life. Throughout his first year of college, we’ll be following Nate through monthly blog posts. Check back each month to see what new adventures Nate encounters during this first year at Cornell!
Reno, NV—the site of the
2013 Elks National Convention...
...and an awesome time!

After returning home from a wonderful Elks National Convention in Reno, having one last hurrah with my friends, filling out forms for what seemed to be years, and trying to decide what was essential to bring with me to college, I finally made the trip to Cornell University! As I and many other Elks scholars like me (I’m looking at the freshmen) begin their collegiate careers equipped with the gifts, well-wishes, and advice of more-experienced friends and family, we all realize the crazy whirlwind of opportunity that we have been thrown into.

For me, I finally feel like I’ve gained my footing and have become part of a new community. Before move-in, I went backpacking through the Finger Lakes area of New York, learned a lot about the great outdoors, and made an awesome group of friends! After meeting my roommate and moving in, I started to get acclimated to the campus and explored the beautiful natural gorges and waterfalls surrounding Cornell. As I’m sure many other Elks scholars dealt with, a small scheduling dilemma added to the stress and initiation of the first few weeks of school.

Me and a few friends
at Taughannock Falls—
the tallest waterfall in New York state!
Since being at Cornell, I’ve joined the Big Red Marching Band, Model UN, political groups, quiz bowl, and made the men’s volleyball team! Being involved really is the best way to meet people and have a great time in college. Finding the balance between school, activities, socializing, studying and sleep has proved to be almost natural. Next weekend, mom and dad will be coming to visit for homecoming and reload my supply of snacks. The following weekend, I’ll be traveling to Yale (home to fellow Elks Scholar Advisory Board member Olivia Valdes) to witness Cornell win its first Ivy League football game this year! College has been good to me so far and I hope fellow Elks scholars are having a similar experience. Until my next post, good luck to everyone and thanks for reading!

Nate Baker
Freshman Elks Scholar Advisory Board Representative
Cornell University
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