This is your cue to walk all of Manhattan with your friends.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: 

Charlie Wallace, Double Major in Political Science and East Asian Languages and Culture, Denver, Colorado

Claim to fame: Starbucks, my trifecta of drinks: trenta black tea lemonade, espresso, and ice water, four year as a campus tour guide (even for President Shafik’s first Columbia tour), constantly walking around campus on a phone call (usually with my mom), always bringing up being from Denver+Colorado (the best city and state), Hewitt’s biggest fan, and the CC Student Body President 

Where are you going? Eventually, hopefully back home to the Mile High City. Right now, I am heading to Beijing, China, as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2027?

  1. Read your emails. This university has immense resources that most people don’t know about because they get lost in the many emails and links you will receive throughout your time as a student. If you don’t read them you will miss amazing events, opportunities, resources, programs, and funding opportunities. Do I take this personally because I spent more time trying to help people who missed sign-ups for merch/events/opportunities than being able to plan for the merch/event/opportunity itself? Yes. However, truly, you will be miles ahead of everyone if you stay on top of your emails. 
  2. You always have time to shower and brush your teeth. Self-care is so important and you should always carve out time to make sure you feel good before getting back to work. There will be times you walk into Butler 4 or Mudd or other study spaces (particularly during finals) and realize there are many people that decided an extra 20 minutes of studying was more important than showering—I can promise you it is not. You will be doing yourself and the people around you a favor. 
  3. It always gets done. There will be times (aka me right now during finals) where the schoolwork, social events, family obligations, and everything life throws at you seems so overwhelming and you don’t know how to get it in by the deadline. Ask for extensions if need be, be communicative, and get to work. It might seem impossible but I promise you that you will do it. Starting is usually the most painful but you can accomplish incredible things under a time crunch. 

“Back in my day…” Columbia Dining was open 24 hours (returning this coming year, thank you VP Wright) and EC used to be New York’s hottest club. 

Favorite Columbia controversy? The mystery of the shattering of the Carman 5 Lounge Door my freshman year. Hopefully Columbia has properly invested and installed sliding glass door stoppers on all Carman floor lounges. 

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Public Speaking with Professor Kempf at Barnard, US Lesbian and Gay History with Professor Chauncey, anything with Professor de la Paz. Please tell Columbia to get him back from John Jay College.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Dairy is a no-go for me… (allergic)

Whom would you like to thank? Hewitt Dining Hall Staff, the Starbucks at 114th and Broadway, CCSC, the URC+Hannah Healy, all of my amazing and extraordinarily supportive friends, Dean Chang and Dean Kromm, Mom, Dad, Pop, Pahteeha, Jack, Izzy, and my entire family, I truly couldn’t have done it without all of you. 

One thing to do before graduating: Walk the entire island of Manhattan with your friends, make a lot of stops for food and drinks. 

Any regrets? Repeatedly having my backpack locked on Butler Floor 5 and 6 because they close at night and not learning from my mistake. 

Portrait via Charlie