From tropical Puerto Rico to the Midwestern United States, Cornell is one of only three colleges across the country to welcome a group of students, a Posse, from the Caribbean island this year.
Nine Puerto Rican Posse scholars moved in with the first-year class in August, ready to embark on their college journey far from home. While Posse has been around since 1989, the Posse Puerto Rico program is new—only in its second year.
Cornell has been a partner institution with Posse for four years now. That means we’ve welcomed four Posses composed of students from across the U.S. and two Posses from Puerto Rico. (That’s six groups over four years!)
What is Posse?
The Posse Foundation identifies high school students with extraordinary academic and leadership potential who may be overlooked by the traditional college selection process. Through a competitive interview and application process, the chosen students receive full-tuition scholarships to the institutions they attend. The Posses, or teams of about 10 students, complete extensive pre-collegiate training together, arriving on campus with a support system that allows them to thrive and become campus leaders who make a difference.
Digital Liberal Arts Coordinator Erin Lane is the mentor of this year’s group from Puerto Rico. She’s the go-to person for support while they start their college careers at Cornell.
“This is an opportunity for these students to get a college education, build on leadership opportunities, and really enrich the campus and college,” Lane said. “All of them are natural leaders in very different ways.”
Lane meets with the students every week, as a Posse, and individually every two weeks. She says the students are already making a difference on campus.
“It’s a beautiful thing to see and meet people from other places and see how they live their lives, speak a different language, or have different religious or cultural practices. It is my hope that exposure to people from other cultures will open students’ minds to learn about places beyond Iowa, the Midwest, or the U.S and allow them to examine their own culture. There’s a whole world out there and you can meet someone from another place who might spark an interest in studying abroad or a certain major. Our Posse Puerto Rico scholars offer us that opportunity.”
How did you become part of the Puerto Rico Posse?
I found out about Posse thanks to my school; I was nominated for the scholarship by my school counselor. It was a process of three interviews. The first and the last ones were group interviews, and the second one was individual. Posse is a very competitive scholarship—in Posse Puerto Rico, only 30 students are selected out of all those who compete, 10 for each university. When I passed the second interview, they told me I would be competing to be part of Posse Cornell. Later, I joined a call with Posse, and they gave me the news that I had been accepted for the scholarship and would be going to Cornell. It was an interesting and enriching process that I enjoyed and appreciate very much. Posse has given me a beautiful experience and has allowed me to meet wonderful people.
What is your favorite thing about being in a Posse and being here at Cornell?
My favorite thing about Posse is that the scholarship prepares you for college. Once you are selected, you go through a pre-college training process to help you adapt to university life. Also, I didn't come here alone—I have my Posse, with whom I can count on for anything. From doing homework together to going out and having fun, Posse made it much easier for me to make friends.
On the other hand, my favorite thing about Cornell is the people. I always heard that at university, you have to look out for yourself, but here, many people are willing to help, and that’s really nice. I'm not someone who talks to a lot of people, but I always like meeting new people, and many have made this easier by showing an interest in talking to me, which I appreciate a lot.
What has the experience at Cornell been like for you?
Something new at Cornell, compared to Puerto Rico, is the cold weather and the block plan. The cold is definitely a new experience—back home, temperatures never drop below 60 degrees in the winter. I think my first culture shock was hearing about the "heat wave" because the weather seemed pretty cool to me; in Puerto Rico, heat waves can go up to around 110 degrees. Here, I experienced my first snow, which was lovely to share with my friends who were also experiencing it for the first time. The block plan is interesting; I like how it works and how it makes studying and organizing easier. Also, the language is a big factor that’s different from Puerto Rico since we speak Spanish there. Switching from living daily life in one language to suddenly using another can be quite jarring. Sometimes, while I’m speaking in English, I unconsciously slip in a few words in Spanish.
This experience at Cornell has been incredibly enriching and wonderful. I have learned a lot here at Cornell, not just academically but also socially. I have met new people and stepped out of my comfort zone many times, becoming more open to socializing and less shy. Spending time with friends, going out together, and meeting up at the dining hall after classes are experiences I will always remember. Before coming to Cornell, the advice I heard from many people was: “Enjoy this experience; it’s one you’ll never forget.”
How did you become part of the Puerto Rico Posse?
My group is the second Posse from Puerto Rico. It all started when I got a voicemail from a staff member of Posse telling me that I was nominated and interviews were about to start. I went to school and my English teacher told me she nominated me because she saw potential in me and heard about this scholarship through online sources. When I heard that this scholarship was an opportunity to study in the United States I was excited because I had always dreamed of living here at some point in my life and I wanted to have a better opportunity to study. When I was getting back from the first interview, I was nervous but my dad told me a phrase that I would never forget and it was: “Paola si está para ti, está para ti” which means that if it's for you then it's for you. When I got the news that I got the scholarship, I cried of excitement because I couldn’t believe that I got this opportunity.
What has been the most challenging and the most rewarding part of this experience?
The most challenging part of being here at Cornell College is getting used to the changes in weather and how silent it can be sometimes. Back at home, the temperatures are always high and it even gets hot in the Christmas season. The most rewarding part of being part of Posse is meeting new people who are now not only my friends but also my family, who are always there for me to support my achievements and create memories together. Being part of Posse has taught me to believe in my skills and as a person. It has shown me that I should not doubt myself. Every time I'm here and I look around I still can't believe how I got here and it all feels so unreal. I love being at Cornell College. The staff and students have been welcoming and heartwarming since arriving here.
What do you hope Cornellians learn from you and your Posse?
I hope that Cornellians learn about our Puerto Rican culture and how we are always supportive of each other through good and rough times. Also, no matter what there will always be an open door to any opportunity, and life gets better through time.