Senior Kris Ahn gives some heartwarming advice about life and clean air.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Kris/Toast depending on the setting, Barnard, Political Science, and Camas, WA

Claim to fame: I want to say people know me equal parts because of Dems, Camp Kesem, and the clay collective

Where are you going? A few blocks up on Claremont :)

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2024?
1. There’s a campsite called Camp Gateway in Brooklyn open from April to October. It takes like two hours to get there which seems like a long time but there’s pretty water and the air seems fresher and it’s cheaper/ easier than getting on a real train to New Jersey or out of the city.
2. Ask for help (extensions from professors, accommodations from deans, support from friends and loved ones, etc etc) when you need it. Sometimes people won’t be as helpful or as supportive as you need or want, which feels extra shitty, but much of the time you’ll get a little weight taken off of you.
3. Assume good intentions. There are obviously exceptions, but most people want to learn/are open to learning. (On the other side of this, stop playing devil’s advocate.)

“Back in my day…” I didn’t carry an umbrella around because there was scaffolding everywhere I needed to go. (I guess I still don’t carry an umbrella around but now I get wet..)

Favorite Columbia controversy? I don’t like controversy

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Loved Children at Risk with Geraldine Downey and Comparative Politics of Urban Latin America with Eduardo Moncada

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Hmmm….

Whom would you like to thank? My roommate Nora, and all of my other best and closest friends, but especially Hannah, Sara, Jenna and my clay collective crew :) My mom, dad, brother. The professors I had who treated their students with true compassion and understanding (special shout out Michelle Smith, Gale Kenny, Eduardo Moncada, Claire Ullman and James Dunlea, who will be a great professor someday soon).

One thing to do before graduating: Get the clay collective out of the Plimpton basement (I think it’s too late I’m already done with school)

Any regrets? I wish I’d learned about Camp Gateway before my last semester :/

photo via Kris Ahn