Natalie Robehmed

Next in the never-ending stream of Senior Wisdoms: Natalie Robehmed, a former WBAR staff member who eats beer for dinner and loves a red lighthouse. 

Name, Hometown, School: Natalie Robehmed, Dubai, U.A.E., Columbia College (not “the” college.)

Claim to fame? WBAR DJ/staff member emeritus; New Poetry person; loud laugher.

Where are you going? Joining the lemming migration to Brooklyn, hopefully making a living spilling ink. (makeitrain.gif)

3 things you learned at Columbia:

• 1. Beer can be both a meal and a drink. Thank you, 1020.

• 2. Surrounding yourself with people who love you will get you through almost anything. Columbia (and the world!) is a difficult place, but you should, can and WILL find communities to make it worthwhile. S/O all my fams #nonewfriends. Also, CPS.

• 3. “All your hours are wings that beat through space from self to self.” That one’s Khalil Gibran, but I think I figured out what the passage means to me in the past four years. It is possible to effect meaningful and tangible change on student bodies and within student groups, even if it feels as though you are grasping at thin air most semesters. As for the self-to-self, people will probably forget what you say in class and do on campus, but they might remember how you make them feel. I learned not to feel obligated to stick to my chosen hours — it’s okay to change activities or majors, just as it’s okay to alter your courseload for a semester and intern, or to take time off. Some of the most important minutes for my own self have been spent skipping class to sleep, bike or read (sorry, Music History). “Life is slow dying,” carpe diem, hold fast to the spirit of youth etc. etc. but really — pour yourself into Columbia; don’t get lost in it. You’ll do just fine.

Back in my day…. Amir’s was gross, Campo was grosser, O’Connells was Cannons, NSOP was dominated by frat parties on 114th, JJs Place had no Jamba Juice, 8.40am class didn’t exist, Cardomat and original Four Loko did. Senior wisdom asked about the “War on Fun” rather than CU Admirers.

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: <p align=”justify”> your existence </p>

Write a CU admirers post to anyone or anything at Columbia: WBAR, your studio may look a little rough around the edges but you are the flyest damn club in the Columbia/Barnard Community. I’ve learned so much from you and I’m just so glad we’ve been able to take our relationship to the next level. You made us a we, and I’m thankful I’ve been given the opportunity to care.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? A cheese ethnographer once guest lectured a Food, Ecology, and Globalisation class I took. It seemed like a ful-filling occupation. ;)

One thing do to before graduating:

Outdoors: Get your hands on a bike and cycle up to the little red lighthouse under the George Washington Bridge. One of the nicest spots to take your reading.

Indoors: If you have the opportunity to do so, get to know your security guards. It’ll brighten both your days, and they’ll look out for you in ways you might never expect. One of Watt’s stalwart desk attendants recently told me “love and school are two different lessons.” The take-home of the conversation was that juggling academics and personal relationships can be difficult, but that learning about people and friends and dating in college can be just as important as the classes you attend. 9.4 Best New Advice.

Any regrets? Very few serious ones, tbh. Not writing for the Blue and White, not taking photo with Roma, not taking classes at the Computer Music Centre, waiting until senior year to take my first (only) creative writing workshop… Mostly, though, I’m thankful. LUV U.