It’s time for your daily dose of wisdom. Today’s Senior Wisdom is from Sophie, lurk of the Diana Center.

Sophie 

Name, Hometown, School, Major: Sophie, San Francisco, CA, Barnard College, Neuroscience & Behavior

Claim to fame: I think the closest I’ve come to “fame” is when a bartender at a place near campus recognized me from my role as “Bob” in the 2013 Vagina Monologues. Otherwise you might know me as a FemSex facilitator, former rugby captain, or frequent/constant inhabitant/resident/lurk of the Diana Center. Also some people think that I look like a young Judith Butler, idk.

Where are you going? Right now? Probably to go take a nap. Later? After a quick trip home to San Francisco, I’m moving to Crown Heights with my best friend, doing cancer research for 2 years and then (hopefully) med school!

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2018?

1) It’s way easier / less awkward to be friendly than to not be friendly! I spent a lot of the ~*~early years~*~ of school walking around campus/being in class and staring everyone down/looking mean, but then I realized that if I actually smiled and said hi to people that I recognized, I would be a lot happier and have more friends. It’s very hard to find community at this school, but it’s really amazing how much having even the smallest conversations with people in the elevator or on the way to class can change that.

2) Related — If there’s someone you want to be friends with / hang out with, don’t be afraid to ask them to hang out! In my experience, most people are always looking for new friends/acquaintances, and there are so many amazing people at this school to laugh with and learn from. Taking an hour or so out of your day to get coffee with a new person can lead to really excellent things!

3) It’s okay to say no to things and to stop doing things if you don’t want to be doing them anymore. There are so many activities and clubs at this school that it would be kind of silly to only do one of them for all 4 years. Try new things and if you don’t like them then don’t feel pressured to stay on!

“Back in my day…” Liz’s Place was called Java City and they made a mean mint milkshake.
The Diana did not serve breakfast.
Jin Ramen didn’t exist, Amigos was Campo, Dig Inn was Cardomat, Uni Cafe was Pinnacle.
You could get pre-ban 4loko delivered.

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer. One time I played human pacman in Butler Cafe while wearing overalls.

Write your most memorable note from the field: I was approached earlier this semester by a random woman at a bar and asked to join her adult softball team called “the scissor sisters.”

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Although my desire for both is very high, I have only experienced a stomach ache as a result of one. And I hate stomach aches. So… farewell, my beloved cheese.

One thing to do before graduating: I want to finally fulfill my dream of sprinting past a tour group and shouting “GGGAY!!” at the top of my lungs.

Any regrets? Many… Trying not to linger on them though. Mostly, I wish that I had taken more women’s studies classes and gotten more involved in campus activism sooner.