Aerin Mok
Psychology & Anthropology
Hong Kong
What was your favorite class and why?
One of my favourite classes has been Human Osteology, currently taught by Professor Matthew Velasco. Through hands-on study of human skeletal remains in the anthropology department’s Human Remains Collection, I learned how to identify all 206 bones in the human body and their anatomical features by sight and/or touch. I really enjoyed how the course integrated anatomical knowledge with an anthropological approach to violence and health. It enabled me to learn about the physical forms in which trauma and illness can manifest, and observe the bidirectional relationship between medicine and sociohistorical context.
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
I have served as co-president of Cornell Empathy, Assistance, and Referral Service (EARS) for two academic years. Before this, I was first involved as a trainee and then as a Super Curriculum Coordinator on its E-Board. Since before coming to Cornell, I have known about EARS as one of the major student-led mental health volunteer organisations at this university. Through its various services (peer mentoring, training, and workshops), it plays a significant role in promoting mental wellbeing on campus and open conversations about empathy and active listening. EARS has been a tremendous contributor towards my personal and professional growth, enabling me to develop my leadership and communication skills while giving me access to one of the most kind, hardworking and compassionate communities I have ever known. Whether it was leading training, holding meetings or having socials with the EARS community, I have enjoyed every moment because we treat each other with sincerity and warmth.
What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?
The most valuable skills I have gained from my Arts & Sciences education are leadership, goal-setting and prioritization and cross-disciplinary thinking. The emphasis that many of my professors and courses have placed on taking initiative when participating in group discussions and projects have instilled in me the habit of taking the lead when I can while also respecting others’ perspectives. Given the relative heavy course load that comes with taking on two majors and a minor on the pre-medical path, I have also learned to set manageable goals and order them in levels of priority. Finally, the diverse nature of my studies has trained me to observe and analyze connections between various disciplines I have encountered. It is easy to fall into the trap of conceptualizing a discipline as isolated, but academic life becomes much more interesting when you see how its different areas can support one another.
Who or what influenced your Cornell education the most?
One of the individuals who has influenced my Cornell education the most was Professor Harry Segal from the psychology department. The first class I took with him was Adult Psychopathology, where Dr. Segal infused his lectures on major mental illnesses with inspirational and heartfelt anecdotes. I got to know him through attending his office hours, and found that his experiences as a clinical psychologist and professor influenced the ways in which he treated his students. Talking to him individually made me feel understood and empathised with, which I feel is sometimes lacking in interactions within the world of academia. Dr. Segal ended up being a source of compassion and guidance that I would turn to throughout my junior and senior years. This positively affected the way in which I viewed my academic progress at Cornell, influencing me to treat myself with more compassion and introspection.
Every year, our faculty nominate graduating Arts & Sciences students to be featured as part of our Extraordinary Journeys series.Read more about the Class of 2025.
