By Harrison Mayesh
Staff Writer & Assistant Circulation Editor
Many Costa students use summer vacation to relax from school, but sophomore Lily Raffety and junior Daly Raffety are pursuing their future job aspirations while attending Cornell Summer College at Cornell University.
Lily Raffety is enrolled in Foundations in American Law, and will be learning about the basics of criminal, constitutional, contract and tort law. At the end of the three week course a mock trial will be held where students will act as lawyers in a simulated court proceeding. The elder sister, Daly Raffety, is attending the Public Policy class, that focuses on controversial topics and how to create solutions and policies. This is the Raffety sisters third summer in a row taking an educational program at Cornell University.
“My stepdad’s family is very involved with Cornell and they always have amazing things to say about it,” Lily Raffety said. “I’ve been to Cornell multiple times to visit and for other camps and I loved it, so I thought it would be amazing to spend a full three weeks of my summer there.”
The younger Raffety sister, Lily, was heavily influenced about law by her mother. Her mom, Jennifer is an attorney and Lily constantly hears stories about cases which have influenced her to follow in her mother’s footstep by taking the class Foundations of American Law.
Click here to visit Cornell’s Summer College website
“I’ve always been really interested in law. I love politics and history and I think law combines both perfectly,” Lily Raffety said. “I think this program will give me a better idea on whether or not law is something I really want to pursue in the future.”
The elder Raffety sister, Daly, is attending the Public Policy class where she will discuss various topics such as crime and punishment, health behaviors, immigration, economics and other current controversial events happening in the world. She will then pick a side and develop arguments in favor or against different controversial policies and conduct a debate with her classmates.
Click here to see other summer programs offered at Cornell University
“My family and I always talk about controversial issues and how they should be fixed, so it’s something I’m really interested in,” Daly Raffety said. “I can’t wait to come back home and discuss controversial topics with my parents, while using the skills I learned while at camp!”
For the past two summers, the Raffety duo has participated in other camps and programs through Cornell University. In the summer of 2014, the sisters attended a science sampler course, and the following year they took a veterinary science class and lived on campus in the dorms at Cornell University for one week.
“Last year when I went to Cornell I fell in love with the campus,” Lily Raffety said. “At the camp I attended last year we worked at facilities located on campus which was really cool. I can definitely see myself going back to Cornell in the future.”
The Raffety sisters be learning a plethora of new things in their college level classes, and will additionally be able to involve themselves into the college lifestyle while living on campus at Cornell University.
“I’m most excited about being at Cornell again and being able to make new friends with people from all around the world who share the same interests as me,” Daly Raffety said.
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