Julia Qian

Take some afternoon senior wisdom from outgoing SGA President, Julia Qian! 

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Julia Qian, Barnard College, History, Athena Scholar, Hangzhou, China (that’s where Alibaba was founded, just saying)

Claim to fame: SGA prez for 2014-2015, a proud member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Senior Interviewer, Global Symposium Fellow…

Where are you going? On my way to get a Claudia’s pick-me-up before monday morning 9am meeting for SGA.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2019?

1. Pause and be kind. Leave your room 10 minutes early for classes so you can actually engage in a small conversation when you pass by a friend instead of “hi, bye, I gotta go.” Make it a daily routine to do something for another person, whether big or small.

2. Learn to appreciate, and pay forward. It is truly a blessing to be surrounded by such passionate, committed and courageous individuals. Cherish this community and whenever you can, pay forward.

3. Fail harder. A very close friend of mine shared this piece of wisdom with me. It is OK to fail. Try new things, embrace new ideas, challenge different perspectives, take risks and fail harder.

“Back in my day…” There’s a library on the hilltop, That’s very dear to me…So we’ll sing to dear old Barnard Library…

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: I might have led the Class of 1969 to dance to the Beatles at their reunion

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Post-Modernism with Prof Vandenburg, Essay Writing with Prof Schor-Haim, Modern Dance with Prof Caitlin Trainor, Philosophy of Law with Prof Moody-Adams

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I heard a voice whispering “May the Fourth be with you”and took away this question.

One thing to do before graduating: I really really really want to go to a rooftop to watch stars one night, ahhhhh, any ideas/suggestions?? If that doesn’t happen, falling asleep under the magnolia tree will do.

Any regrets? I missed the deadline and two extended deadlines to submit senior wisdom to Bwog… oops