Ronni Mok
Economics & Statistical Science
Toronto, Canada
What was your favorite class and why?
It's hard to pick, but my favorite class was ECON 3800, Economics and the Law, with Professor Hay. Prior to Economics and the Law, most of the economics classes I took were centered around economic theory. Economics and the Law took all of those theories and applied them to different legal cases; we got to see a wide range of examples (from contract breaches and trespasses to manufacturing defects) and looked at how even understanding the shift in a demand curve could decide a Supreme Court case. Moreover, I have always had a long-standing interest in law, and this class — taught with the Socratic method at Cornell Law — solidified my desire to eventually enter this field.
What have you accomplished as a Cornell student that you are most proud of, either inside the classroom or otherwise?
As a Cornell student, I think that I am most proud of publishing the Cornell International Affairs Review. Prior to Cornell, one of my goals had always been to become editor-in-chief of an academic publication. I wasn't able to accomplish that in my four years of high school, and being able to do it in my first semester of sophomore year definitely gave me a great sense of pride. Furthermore, it was very daunting to publish a journal that has such an international outreach and it took an entire semester of planning and coordination with both undergraduate and graduate students. We got really strong submissions from schools like Harvard, Oxford, etc. and each writer relied on our team at Cornell to not only compile all the different takes on contemporary international relations but also edit and take their works to the next level. The ultimate product was something the entire editorial board was really proud of, and I was really proud to have been able to lead them through the process.
If you were to offer advice to an incoming first year student, what would you say?
Take advantage of all the resources around you! There are so many different places to get help that students are often not aware of, whether officially provided by the university or not. I have found that whether it be students or faculty, you would be surprised by how many people are willing to help you regardless of your relationship.
