Former Events Editor Brigid encourages us to unleash our inner creative writing talent.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Brigid, Barnard College, English w/ film concentration, Philadelphia, PA 

Claim to fame: Exposing my high school diary in a short documentary I made for my Nonfiction Digital Video Production class with Meg McLagan, dailying for Bwog for two semesters, being the Events Editor for a few more semesters, and posting too many collages to Instagram. 

Where are you going? The World Trade Center to work at Condé Nast and Philadelphia to hug my geriatric chihuahua. 

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2026? 

1. Take a creative writing workshop (preferably at Barnard) even if you’ve never written in an academic setting before. The experience is invaluable both in terms of finding your artistic voice and improving your public speaking skills. 

2. You might spend a lot of time alone, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel lonely. Cultivate your relationship with yourself when you have the time. Going inwards is so necessary. 

3. Say hi to the raccoons in Riverside Park. They might remind you of your pet at home. 

“Back in my day…” 110 didn’t have air conditioning, and I forget everything else that happened before COVID. 

Favorite Columbia controversy? Bwog. 

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Postmodernism with Margaret Vandenburg completely changed the way I see the world from a literary and environmentalist point of view. Nonfiction Digital Film Production with Meg McLagan sparked my passion for documentary filmmaking and made me work harder than I ever have before at this school. Creative Writing on Trauma with Maria Hinojosa empowered me to find my voice as a writer and as a human being.

Whom would you like to thank? Myself, Kathleen from Furman, my mom, my chihuahua, Joy, and my third sister, Michelle. And all of the amazing friends I’ve made along the way. 

One thing to do before graduating: Have a conversation with Sian Beilock for more than fifteen seconds. 

Any regrets? Not bringing a vacuum until sophomore year. I love vacuuming.

Portrait via Brigid