Natalie reminds us to take risks and advocate for ourselves!

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Natalie, Barnard College, American Studies & Human Rights Studies, Newton, MA

Claim to fame: Transfer student who (over)committed to the “transfer supremacy” bit. Accidental recipient of two Orchesis spirit awards.

Where are you going? To take a much needed load off… but then I’m off to conduct research in Panama!

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

You can do things just because they make you happy. That’s a completely valid reason.

Satisfaction comes from a mix of calculated risk and comfort. Take the risk: sign up for the hard classes, join the activities you’ve never done before, talk to the intimidatingly cool person who sits next to you in class. But also remember that you deserve to feel comfortable: put down your homework and take a walk, schedule in lunches with friends on overwhelming days, advocate for yourself when you need help.

(This one is especially for transfers) They wouldn’t let you into this school if they didn’t think you could be successful here. You deserve to be here and belong here just as much as anyone else. I promise.

“Back in my day…” Futter was only a tent… no field or quad to be seen.

Favorite Columbia controversy? “Bold, Beautiful, Baby-Killers”

What was your favorite class at Columbia?

Favorite for changing your worldview: Any class with Sev Fowles (though especially “Indigenous Place-Thought”) will change your understanding of your world and your
relationship to it. Take a class with Sev! (Honorary mention to “Whiteness, Sentiments, and Political Belonging” with Catherine Fennell.)

Favorite for loving yourself: Everytime I left my improv-based Modern IV class with Caroline
Fermin I felt a little silly, a little stronger, and a lot better about myself.

Favorite for vibes: Any Spanish class with Leyre Alejandre-Biel is a guaranteed good time.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? … I mean, have you ever just had some really good cheese? Some bread? A little fruit? Some wine? A cute picnic blanket?

Whom would you like to thank? Oh, only everyone. I know “I couldn’t have done this without…” is an overused platitude… but I’m going to use it anyway because I mean it so genuinely. I couldn’t have graduated from Barnard without my family, friends, and professors. Thank you to my family for being my biggest supporters and cheerleaders and for always being a phone call away. Thank you to my friends for working (talking) in Milstein with me until we got kicked out at 2am, reassuring me while I cried about insignificant assignments, and reminding me that college is about having fun too. Thank you to my professors–especially Jennie Kassanoff, Sev Fowles, Mila Rosenthal, and Teresa Sharpe–for all your tangible support but, most of all, for helping me believe in myself. Thank you, Barnard. I will always be beyond grateful for you.

One thing to do before graduating: I’ve still got a few bucket list items to check off… anyone
want to splash in the fountains with me?

Any regrets? I never slept on the balcony after class like Vampire Weekend… how did they get
on the Hamilton balcony?!

How did they get on the balcony? via Bwog Archives