Cornell Experience

I graduated 7th from the bottom of my high school class (of 173). Got married young, had two boys, worked outdoors. Mowed lawns, cut trees, worked on draggers and lobster boats. Even pumped septic tanks for extra money on Saturdays After observing the older guys around me that were doing the same sort of work, they all seemed bent, busted-up and spent way too early. I remember asking myself as I was mowing a lawn on some expensive waterfront cottage, what did they have that I didn’t? I worked hard, I thought I was fairly intelligent, I was motivated, a good husband and parent. What set them apart? I decided that the answer was a college education.

So, I started a plan to get one. I attended a community college in the evenings, got some experience in learning under my belt, got some mediocre SAT scores, applied to a bunch of colleges and got turned down by every one. By now I’m 23 or 24. Took some more night courses, an SAT prep course and got a better score. 1450 I think? Applied again…This time I got accepted to every one. I was thrilled and terrified. 

Cornell was my first choice, but Purdue, Penn State, or University of Oregon would have been fine. Cornell was willing to take me, but I needed to pass Summer courses in Chemistry, Biology and Calculus first. Night courses again, struggled but made the grade. Started at Cornell just after I lost my father in an accident. A year and a half later, I lost my mom in another accident.

So, there I was. Traumatized. Two young kids, a wife, some income from part-time work from both of us. The courses were kicking my ass. I was way over my head. Everyone was smarter and a better student than me. Looking back on it, the pressure was unbelievable. But failure was not an option. Not after I worked so hard to get there. I think I managed a 2.5 GPA.

The upside was meeting so many people who would be friends for the next 40 years. Cornell continued to open doors for me. I went on to a start-up biotechnology company and made enough money to go back for a Ph.D. I landed a job with a small European biotech company that grew 10 fold ( more Cornell contacts!) I traveled all over the world and became somewhat of an expert in my field.

I finally retired at 58 and my wife and I have traveled the country for 6 to 9 months of the year with an RV and a motorcycle. It’s been 8 years now and we’re still doing it.

We passed thru Ithaca on our travels a few years ago and I felt genuine terror. The place was so big and intimidating. Don’t know why they picked me. Don’t know how I got through it all. But it has been there for me my entire career. And I am so proud to be a graduate of Cornell.

So proud…

Oh, and my high school class? I’m the only one with an Ivy League degree and a Ph.D.

-Rob Everich