Rounding out our Senior Wisdoms for the day is a newfound poetry master!

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Marion Gibson, Barnard, Environmental Policy, Houston, Texas

Claim to fame: Being that queer Barnard girl who lives in a EC suite with four ~pretty straight~ Columbia boys, helping start CUvotes (now ColumbiaVotes), tirelessly campaigning for Beto for *Senate, and, for the first three months of Fall 2018, bombarding everyone that walked near me about the 2018 election

Where are you going? Moving to Chicago, a city where I do not know a soul, but not before embarking on a wild road trip through California

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2023?
1. No one has it figured out. Everyone is literally faking it. It’s okay to not know what you want to do or who you want to be or what you stand for. We have somuch time to figure things out. So stop pretending you know everything, and maybe the sentiment will rub off on everyone else. Most people on this campus ascribe to a very narrow idea of success, but there is a great big world out there. You’re doing great, sweetie.
2. Go for it. I only regret the times I didn’t talk to my crush in the elevator. Be honest and upfront with what you want and need out of your relationships, romantic or otherwise, and without being consumed with what you think the other person wants. It will save you a lot of time and energy!
3. Be critical. Question the institution, your class material, and the assumptions you have.  Who are you hanging out with?? Go make friends with people who have different opinions! Different experiences! Have the tough conversations that make you uncomfortable because you will be better for it.

“Back in my day…” Clogs were REALLY cool on Barnard’s campus, the Diana Center was the center of our social world, and you could get a good bagel without having to walk all the way to Absolute.

Favorite Columbia controversy? Every dramatic post in a Barnard Facebook group that escalates. Save the pigeons!

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: Once I was interviewed by a local station about flooding and then I tried to convince the broadcaster to vote for Beto on live TV

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Beginning Poetry Workshop! Seriously, I took it senior year with zero experience writing poetry, and it has changed my life. Catch me at your nearby spicy poetry reading.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I don’t think it’d be that difficult to be vegan. Added bonus of lowering my carbon footprint.

Whom would you like to thank? The library workers who never charged me for my overdue books, the TAs who granted me extensions even when I probably didn’t deserve them, and the Barnard Environmental Science department for being an awesome group of humans. Also Ariana Grande. But most importantly, thank you to my parents, my three older siblings who have been lifelong role models, and all of the wonderful friends I’ve met here on this campus.

One thing to do before graduating: I still haven’t attended the subway party to Coney Island, so hopefully I will have done that by the time this is posted. This thesis won’t write itself either.

Any regrets? Honestly, I did my BEST and I’m fine with that! Self love, y’all.