Darius Ballard

For Darius Ballard, campus life at Cornell meant not only having fun, but also creating fun.  While producing events like the Ultimate Foam Dance Party, Nerf Gun Dart Wars, and The Price is Right as a member of the Performing Arts and Activities Council (PAAC), he gained valuable skills that he feels will serve him well as a high school teacher.

"I learned to be more creative, outspoken, and aggressive, while honing my leadership skills," he says. "The most memorable moments were when a brand new brainchild I had a hand in went off without a hitch."

Ballard also found time to be of service to others.  He served as a peer advocate and residence hall council advisor, and co-founded a Greek Life service group, Sigma Kappa Psi. He also participated in intramural sports, attended many athletic events, and was named Homecoming King.

He says that Cornell's flexible One-Course-At-A-Time schedule made his busy campus life possible.

"OCAAT allows you to be more active on campus because the class day is over at 3:00," he says.  "You have a little more freedom to experiment on campus and find your niche."

Ballard majored in secondary education and biology and began teaching high school science in Cedar Rapids in the fall of 2007.

"Cornell has been exactly what I needed to prepare me for teaching," he says.