Kaila Hall
Government & French
Rockville, Md.
What was your favorite class and why?
It is certainly hard to pick just one, but HIST 2860 French Revolution with Professor Paul Friedland was one of my favorites. Having attended a French international school, this course allowed me to build off of my previous experiences and delve deeper into political theory and engage with complex political questions. We had the privilege of visiting the French Revolution Archive Collection in the Carl A. Kroch Library, where we were able to examine historical documents firsthand. This course played an essential role in inspiring me to write my thesis on French universalism.
What is your main extracurricular activity and why is it important to you?
One of the many unique programs that I encountered at Cornell was the Veterans Law Project at Cornell Law School. I became an undergraduate volunteer and data analyst for the program in my junior year. This experience has been extremely rewarding in numerous ways. In addition to furthering my interest in public interest law, I was able to serve local veterans and get involved in the Upstate New York community.
What Cornell memory do you treasure the most?
Cornell in Washington was an excellent opportunity. During the program, I was able to take a history course on American Defense Policy and Military History and intern in Congress at the same time. This unique program allowed me to apply my academic interests in real-world policy situations and extend my learning outside of the classroom.
What are the most valuable skills you gained from your Arts & Sciences education?
Through A&S, I have gained invaluable language, research and writing skills. The flexibility of the program allowed me to pick and choose my own track. As a result, I took classes on topics ranging anywhere from American politics to philosophy and foreign policy. Professors encouraged me to explore new academic interests, leading me to take unique classes that I really enjoyed. During my time at Cornell, I combined my French language skills and interests in political theory to eventually write my thesis.
What are your plans for next year?
After graduation, I will be participating in the State Department’s Critical Language Scholarship Russian language program. I will also be helping to develop the Foreign Service Institute’s French language curriculum. I plan on working for a few years before attending law school.
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.
