Cornell Annual Fund Stories

Israel Nares '09

When Israel Nares first arrived at Cornell, he was undecided about his major. He was considering English, but he also was intrigued with the idea of pursuing some international field. His first course in International Relations was quickly followed by one in Arabic. As he explored additional courses and talked with students and faculty, he found his passion in Near Eastern Studies.

Israel Nares '09

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had some influence on his interest, but they were not the compelling force in his decision about a major field of study. "What really factored in so much was the portrayal of the region by the media and politicians. I thought it seemed far too skewed, and I figured I would gain insight and a more balanced perspective on the region through my coursework." Early this summer Israel will go to Jordan on a research fellowship to study the effects of mass media on the Jordanian culture. To gain additional perspective on media's impact on cultures that have remained somewhat isolated, he also hopes to spend the end of the summer in rural Mexico, looking at the impact of preferential trade agreements like NAFTA on small farmers who then migrate across the U.S. border. His fluency in Spanish and growing facility with Arabic will ease communication in both places. Most of all, his determination and quest for knowledge will enable him to return to Cornell at the end of the summer with a richer understanding of both cultures.

Coming from El Paso, Israel initially knew less about Cornell than most of the other schools he applied to. On his tour of the campuses, he visited Cornell last. "As soon as I got here, I knew this was where I would come," he says. "Cornell really resonated with me." He was impressed by the university facilities, the Ithaca community, even the food in area restaurants. Most of all, he was impressed with the warmth and friendliness of the people he met.

Since becoming a student here, Israel's list of things to love about Cornell has grown. "The quality of the faculty is one big standout. Cornell has some of the best in the world." Visiting friends at other universities, he's convinced there's simply no comparison.

He also talks enthusiastically about the facilities and the availability of great resources. Cornell's libraries particularly impress him. "Last year I had to do a report on a book that's not yet been published digitally on the Internet, and I found one written by a British woman about Bosnia. It was published before 1910, beautifully bound and decorated, and the pages still had crimping on the edges. I took it home at Thanksgiving break to show my family." That's just one small example of the vast resources that add to the Cornell wow factor for Israel.

A dedicated student, Israel spends much of his time outside of classes and studying in research and writing. Now, he's also preparing for the LSATs he'll take in the fall, when he'll also apply to law schools. He plans to pursue international conventions and treaty law. Then what? It's still too far away to say for certain. Public policy, private enterprise, and charitable work all interest him.

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