Hi Explorers! My name is Carolyn Wright, and I have the privilege of serving as one of the Graduate Assistants for the Exploratory Program.
I am from a small town in Western New York (WNY) where I grew up on a dairy and maple farm. From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career connected to agriculture. In 8th grade the seed of becoming an agriculture teacher was planted. As I thought about it, I realized it combined both of my career interests: agriculture and teaching.
Despite knowing what I wanted to do after high school, my college journey has been dynamic. I started my college career at Alfred State, a small state school in WNY. There, I experienced a tight knit community and was able to cultivate lasting relationships both academically and personally. After two years at Alfred, I transferred to Cornell University, a vastly larger institution to complete my bachelor’s. There, I was able to broaden my connections, interact with international students, and experience diversity in ways I hadn’t had the opportunity to do so before.
Now, I am working on my master’s in agriculture education at IC which has allowed me to return to a smaller college community while still engaging in a diverse environment. Each experience has been unique and allowed me to grow more as an individual whether that be simply navigating a new environment, joining new organizations, or learning new skills.
I look forward to serving IC students by helping them find their place on campus just as I have!