Engineering grad Dyson ’22 shares life lessons

Every year Cornell celebrates its grads at Commencement with their closest friends and families. We also like to highlight a number of grads online as they transition from college student to college grad and join Cornell’s growing community of alumni.

Kyrstyn Renee’ Dyson

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E)

Hometown: Indianapolis, Indiana

Headed to: West Lafayette, Indiana

“It’s easy to push through a month of class and it’s nice to be able to focus on one thing.”

What do you think you’ve learned since being at Cornell that you did not know before you arrived?

You will be knocked down many times, like a lot, and college is a lot harder than you think, but sometimes you just need to remember your why. Why am I here? Why am I doing this? And that will keep you going. My dad passed away in November and realizing that I’m doing this for him was a big motivation for me.

Who helped you along your college journey?

My Pawpaw, without him being by my side every single step of the way, giving me those conversations I needed, being a shoulder to cry on, someone to look up to, my hero; he means everything to me. Without him, I’d be nothing. I owe him everything.

Describe the block plan.

The block plan is made up of 8 blocks. Each block is cut up into an 18-day course. I like it because it is only 18 days. If you hate the class and it’s hard, well you could have had it all semester but you have it for only 18 days so suck it up and push through. It’s easy to push through a month of class and it’s nice to be able to focus on one thing.

What is your advice to the classes behind you?

It’s not easy and it’s not going to be fair, but life isn’t easy and life won’t be fair. You have to figure out what drives you to get to the finish line. Focus on that and you’ll be just fine.