Caroline Clifford tells you how to get people to respond to your emails and reminds you that you should probably forgive yourself.

Name, School, Major, Hometown:
Caroline Clifford, GS, Political Science, SF Bay Area

Claim to fame:
I went from being a SEAS Theta to a Political Science health and well-being advocate in G.S. seeking to maintain a strict bedtime.

Where are you going?
I’m an organizer on the DNC’s 2020 Organizing Corps and will be campaigning for the general election in Pennsylvania. I may pursue higher education in public health, policy, education, and/or law.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2024?

1. Active listening is often the most valuable contribution: if you feel like you don’t know anything about a topic, ask a question. In discussions rooted in social issues, if you’re in a position of relative privilege, take a breath and listen. Your listening may hold space for your peers to step up and share. Sometimes people just want to be heard. When you give up the need to be right or to “win” in a discussion, you open a door to connection. Make allies. Nobody wants unsolicited advice.
2. People respond to emails with subject lines beginning with [ACTION REQUIRED] (Shoutout to Prof. Steve Cohen of SPS): When dealing with the administration, start by considering that they may actually be on your team, and they might actually care about your experience. Give people a chance before making them enemies.
3. Health and well-being deserve to be prioritized at an individual and community level. There is a lot of work to be done to make this accessible and possible. If you have the opportunity, sleep a little more, hydrate frequently, and eat some healthy fats. Go for a walk and look around. If you feel like these aren’t options for you, talk to someone. There are resources to help you like the Columbia food pantry, CPS Problem Solving drop-in hours, and five-minute YouTube meditations for anxiety. Start a wholesome conversation. Support your friends in getting enough sleep. Care for yourself as you would care for a dear friend. If you want to have self-worth, do worthy things. Be kind when it feels challenging. Kindness doesn’t always mean sweetness. If you feel down, get a group of friends together and do an appreciation circle: spend a fixed amount of time showering each other with real compliments and affirmations. It may sound frivolous, but it can make a difference. Don’t let your ego stop you from asking for support. You deserve more love and care than you give yourself.

“Back in my day…” 
Back in my day, after I came out as queer, before bowing out of the Greek life scene, a meme went around certain fraternities with “Make Caroline Straight Again” cropped onto the MAGA hat.

Favorite Columbia controversy?
The above.

What was your favorite class at Columbia?
Reforming American Elections with Prof Miller—also, Gender and AfAm Studies should really be added to the Core.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese?
Cheese. I’ve been vegan. It was fine.

Whom would you like to thank?
My partner Teresa for being my rock, my inspiration, and my cheerleader.
The CU Dems e-board for keeping me young and showing me how powerful this generation is: Nikita, Nada, Alex, Janine, Jillian, Sarah, Jenna, Anthony, Fiona, María, and Stephen.
Talia Rosen: I am so proud of you.
Every vocal campus leader who speaks up in the face of injustice (Heven Haile, I respect the F out of you).
My biological family for reminding me that I can connect with and love people I don’t always agree with.
My Houston family for teaching me what unconditional love can be.
The powerful women at Columbia Health: Padma Ravichandran Entsuah for being an amazing partner-in-health advocacy and Dr. Melanie Bernitz for inspiring me to think bigger.
Everyone who’s been brave enough to hold me accountable, call me out, give me feedback, and offer me an opportunity to grow.
The Harlem community.

One thing to do before graduating:
Forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for all of the things you didn’t do, all of the times you didn’t act, and all of the ways you were ignorant before you learned what you know now. Forgive yourself so you can move forward and apply what you’ve learned without beating yourself up for the things you did or didn’t do before you learned it.

Any regrets?
I wish I had taken more African American Studies classes.

Caroline Clifford via Caroline