As the senior class heads out into the real world, Bwog traditionally delays them a few minutes to get their final thoughts on their time at Columbia, and their advice to their successors. Our third installment is from Nhu-Y Ngo. You can follow the rest here.


Name, School: Nhu-Y Ngo, CC

Claim to fame: VSA, APAAM, AAAPC, AdCo, being from Nebraska

Post-grad plans: Researching U.S. immigration policy at a DC think tank, hopefully coming back to the City as soon as possible, some road trips and camping fiascos, then after that, I can has lawlz school?

What are three things you learned at Columbia?

1. The students are really passionate about what they do/believe in, and that drove me to pursue my own interests and seek collaborative projects. I have confirmed my belief that real institutional change on campus does come with student action.

2. Coalition building intimately involves emails. Tons and tons of email.

3. The concept of home as I remember it (and desire when I am homesick) does not really exist anymore, which has helped me come to terms with growing up and moving on. But some things remain the same, like my brother’s willingness to watch BCS football championships with me every winter break.

Justify your existence in 30 words or less. Gchat master who kind of (not really) knows how to swim because of her 9am swim class (shout out to Jimmy Bolster).

Favorite study spot? The Solomon R. Chao Memorial Party Room, until it was disbanded. Basically, it was just a bunch of my friends and I obnoxiously camping out in a Butler study room (sorry!), being insanely unproductive. Though, really, my favorite study spot is back in my hometown–it’s a coffee shop named “The Mill” with free WiFi, great hot cider, an outdoor patio, proximity to a ice cream shop named “Ivanna Cone,” and the occasional Midwestern hipster.

What was your favorite controversy in your time at Columbia? Hunger strike, especially as I believe it was so misunderstood. The organizers had legitimate goals and points, but had a tough time clarifying it to the student body. In my time here, I’ve learn not to immediately disregard student activism as selfish or misguided but dig at what the motivations and reasons are (and help out in any way that I can). And maybe when John Ashcroft came to campus. I found that hilarious. I wish he had sung “Let the Eagle Soar”.

Any battle wounds/war stories from the War on Fun? A few EC disbanded parties, I guess. I did awkwardly get sick at Winter Gala in front of some administrators.

Would you rather permanently give up oral sex or cheese? Is my mother reading this?

What do you wish you could tell the Class of 2013 before they come here? Transfer your Cubmail to Gmail. Believe the Mac is better over PC hype (I’m a recent and initially reluctant/misguided convert). Don’t take Benadryl before an exam. And you know, go downtown and watch the sunset at Battery Park. That kind of stuff.

Regrets? I wish I were a bit braver and less hesitant about some things. And I wish I could have met and gotten to know more people–I’ve overcome my introversion to some extent here, but there is definitely room to grow.