From our former Events Editor: drop the whole idea of knowing the truth and forgive yourself.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Julia, Barnard College, Comparative Literature, São Paulo, Brazil

Claim to fame: Interviewed the Finnish Prime Minister and a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, was Bwog’s unofficial Music Editor for four years, held three (3) separate Barnard jobs at once, saw the back of Beyoncé’s head at The Forum.  

Where are you going? Somewhere sunny.

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

1. The city can be painful and cruel, unkind and difficult. It will hurt you, but don’t let it harden you.
2. Forgive. Yourself. Your family. Your friends. Your professors. Life is too short to hold onto anger. Life is too beautiful not to be enjoyed!
3. Rapid-fire! Find joy in the mundane. Learn to be alone and love it. Keep journals. Make playlists. Develop hobbies. And remember: your privacy is sacred. 

“Back in my day…” Bacchanal was digital! Twice!

Favorite Columbia controversy? How dare you ask me that! Venmo me for my emotional labor right now.

What was your favorite class at Columbia? “Introduction to Translation Studies” with Professor Peter Connor changed the course of my life. “Tragic Bodies” with Professor Nancy Worman taught me all I know. No class has made me cry tears of joy like “Love and Literature” with Professor Brian O’Keeffe. 

And anything with Professor Farah Griffin, Professor Laurie Postlewate, Professor Margaret Vandenburg, Professor Mark Andryczyk, Professor Kaiama Glover, Professor Erk Grimm, or Professor Emily Sun is worth taking. 

Whom would you like to thank? My family and my friends, old and new. Every professor to ever give me an extension. The lovely people at Taqueria Y Fonda. Elif Batuman. Joan (Didion and of Arc). Phoebe Bridgers. Doja Cat. The books, the frogs, and the ghost in my apartment. And my roommate. 

One thing Several things to do before graduating: Try acupuncture at Harlem Chi. Study abroad, even if only for a summer. Live off-campus. Take wacky classes just for fun. Go watch a movie at the Film Forum.

Any regrets? I couldn’t name a single one even if I tried!

Julia via Julia