Annyeonghaseyo, travel adventurers! I’m Mr. Hwang, your guide, and today, we’re swapping the neon glow of the city for the quaint, historic charm of Alfred Village in New York State.

Our current destination—and the heart of this village—is Alfred University at the East/Northeast of the village center. And another west side of the Main street is Alfred State College – a part of SUNY system.

I stand in the center of the campus, gazing up at the magnificent statue of Alfred The Great. This isn’t just a statue; it’s a profound symbol. I look at it with admiration, but what truly inspires me is the powerful dual legacy it represents: “Sword and a book.” It speaks to the balance of strength and knowledge, of defense and education.

As I was having the spiritual awakening, reflecting on this incredible history (after reading result from AI), a local female student walked past. She paused, and her curiosity was clear. She generously walked up to me, misunderstanding that I was a lost, first-time visitor in need of directions. 

I felt a pleasant, roughly friendly connection from her presence, likely because talking seemed to be her way of releasing stress. I remained polite and focused on active listening, not wanting to interrupt her speaking.

She introduced herself as Cecilia.

She’s a winter new graduate, due to complete her final tests and finish her last 10 credits in just a few days.

She had a wonderful, excited energy in her voice—as she spoke about the “Alfred Cup”, a first-time-ever event in this village where two schools competed directly in over 15 different kinds of sports.

Category	Date	Status	Winner	Points (AU)	Points (ASC)
Men’s Basketball	Nov 8, 2025	Finished	Alfred University	2	0
Women’s Volleyball	Oct 11, 2025	Finished	Alfred University	2	0
Women’s Soccer	Sep 10, 2025	Finished	Alfred University	2	0
Women’s Cross Country	Unofficial	Finished	Alfred State College	0	2
Men’s Cross Country	Unofficial	Finished	Alfred State College	0	2
Football	Nov 8, 2025	Finished	Alfred State College	0	2
Men’s Soccer	Unofficial	Finished	Alfred State College	0	2
Women’s Basketball	Jan/Feb 2026	Scheduled	Tracking
Men’s Swim & Dive	Jan 9, 2026	Predetermined	Tracking
Women’s Swim & Dive	Jan 9, 2026	Predetermined	Tracking
Baseball	Apr 1, 2026	Upcoming	Tracking
Softball	Apr 1, 2026	Upcoming	Tracking
Men’s Lacrosse	Apr 1, 2026	Upcoming	Tracking
Women’s Lacrosse	Apr 1, 2026	Upcoming	Tracking
Men’s Track & Field	May 1, 2026	Predetermined	Tracking
Women’s Track & Field	May 1, 2026	Predetermined	Tracking
TOTALS				6	8

( Interesting fact: The Alfred Cup was first launched in Nov 8th 2025 with year-around of 15 sports.)

Alfred University as Saxons vs Alfred State College as Pioneers.

She also shared her excitement about the new year 2026 job seeking in Spring, perhaps internship as well, which is always a mix of nerves and thrill!

Mid-sentence, Cecilia paused to say a quick hello to several students passing by. That made me a little surprised; I momentarily assumed she must be well-known, perhaps even the student of the month!

However, she quickly clarified that this is simply the unique result of this small village:” two-colleges village”. Because it has a high-density student population in a very small geographical area.

Despite the relatively warmer temperature in Alfred Village today, Cecilia was craving something sweet for her brain. To repay her generous and brave offer of assistance, I offered to treat her to a lunch meal at her chosen restaurant.

Cecilia chose the Terra Cotta Coffee House, a cozy spot that felt perfect for a warm afternoon. During lunch, the conversation flowed easily, mostly driven by Cecilia, who continued to speak as a way of releasing stress from her studies. As we were first meeting, our topics revolved entirely around Alfred Village—from its deep history to the specifics of college life. Cecilia kept her personal life private, and I respectfully listened.

As we finished our meal, it was time for Cecilia to return to her dorm. She has to prepare for those final exams and the graduation.

And with that, I wish Cecilia the very best of luck with her studies, her exams, her graduation, her Christmas and her new job seeking in 2026!

May she insists the dual legacy of the “Sword and a book”—strength and knowledge—out into the world.