Ariel Rissman of Buy Sell fame reminds you to take care of yourself and encourages you to scream your heart out.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Ariel Rissman, Barnard College, Psychology, Brooklyn Heights, New York, NY

Claim to fame: Maybe you know me from my photography (shameless plug: @arielrissmanphoto) and a meme posted on Buy Sell featuring a god-awful photo of me at a Columbia Homecoming game that gained over 1k likes. I forget what the exact caption of the meme was. I’ve blocked that out. `

Where are you going? With the flow…but for the time being, Los Angeles! I’m hoping to work for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office as a victim advocate. In my free time, I want to tap back into doing things that fill me with peace and happiness. I’d love to practice meditation and piano. I also want to get back into pleasure reading, yoga, and surfing. On the side, I’m going to be studying for the GRE and the Psychology GRE Subject Test, as I’m hoping to pursue my PsyD in Clinical Psychology (ideally starting in Fall of 2021).

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2024?
1. The importance of finding a source of purpose in life outside of schoolwork. It can be too easy to get caught up in the obsession of getting perfect grades and confusing this pursuit with your purpose. In doing so, you’re in jeopardy of losing sight of what’s truly important; that is, your mental well-being. Whether that be interning, volunteering, joining a club, spending time with friends or something as simple as meditating, widening your net and creating a balance is key.
2. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to ask for help. We’re all high achievers and with that often comes a great deal of self-imposed pressure. If you need some extra support or an extension on an assignment, reach out to your professor or Dean. If you need emotional support, visit Furman Counseling Center, call Barnard Night Line, visit Well Woman or reach out to your Dean for further information on resources. Along the same vein, if your schedule permits it, take Scott Barry Kaufman’s Science of Living Well course. In it, he focuses on the power of self-actualization and how to improve your well-being. I took it this past semester, and had I taken it earlier in my undergraduate career, I think that it could have helped me a great deal with navigating college in as healthy a way possible.
3. Explore! This has probably been advised so many times in these Senior Wisdoms, but it’s true. You are in one of, if not, the greatest cities in the world. It can be so easy to get caught up in the Morningside Heights bubble, and often times without even recognizing it. Staying up at school for too long can start to feel suffocating and so taking a step away can provide you with some much needed freedom and perspective. Some solutions to this can be scheduling in weekly excursions, whether that be a trip to an art gallery, a workout class, or a new restaurant. Or, be spontaneous; walk around a new neighborhood and see where the day takes you. Also consider a semester or year abroad!

“Back in my day…” Cannons was the place to be.

Favorite Columbia controversy? Who is the masked man always on Low attempting to kick water bottles into garbage cans, and WHY? Does he even go here? I need clarity.
What was your favorite class at Columbia? Tough one. It would have to be a tie between E’mett McCaskill’s Topics of Neuroethics course and Scott Barry Kaufman’s Science of Living Well.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Please don’t ask this of me.

Whom would you like to thank? My family, my incredible Barnard friends (shoutout to my “Tenacious Transfers”), my sorority Delta Gamma, my wonderful professors (especially E’mett McCaskill, Koleen McCrink, Deborah Valenze and Teresa Sharpe — you must take a course with them!), my advisor Russell Romeo, Dean Grabiner, and so many others. At a time as difficult and confounding as this in light of the recent tragedy, I am beyond grateful to be a part of a community as tight-knit, loving, and supportive as Barnard. I look forward to staying involved as an alumna and hopefully conducting prospective student interviews.

One thing to do before graduating: The primal scream. Just do it. Super freeing and why not take advantage of this opportunity to just let it all out?

Any regrets? Nope.

Photo via Ariel Rissman