We *confess* that we love Rommel’s wisdom.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Rommel Nunez, SEAS, Computer Science (and film, depending on who is asking…), Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Claim to fame: President of Ratrock Magazine, Head TA for Intro to CS, photographer, music video guy, Eva Westphal’s minion, Spec photo vet, and I run Columbia Confessions!

Where are you going? Tokyo for a bit. I decided it’s time to enter my tropical era. Then I’ll be back in New York, living in the land of cute latte art and struggling artists (W*ll**msb*rg).

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

1. Take some time to get to know yourself in your first two years. I came from a very small town compared to the vast metropolis that is New York City and it served me well to do stupid things, become friends with people I found interesting, and let my true colors shine. If you’re not from a large, diverse city, you’ll find that a lot of things about your personality will seemingly change–what’s actually happening is that, when you realize that no one in New York City knows who you were in high school or is around to hold you to the social precedents you set in regards to your identity, your true self is affected and will start to shine through. You’ll learn to love your authentic self!!
2. If you’re lucky to have an obsessive personality like myself, channel it towards something that brings you joy. For me, the look in people’s eyes after I showed them the photograph I took and the feeling of making movies on set with my best friends became the things that I chased. My friends often ask me how I work on so many projects at once: it’s because even after wrapping one music video or a set of portraits, my brain is already thinking of the next composition or the next screenplay. Find your obsession and run with it as fast as you can.
3. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to be a better person. You’re going to bump elbows with some of the most talented, driven, and intelligent people of your generation–use their work and knowledge as fuel for your passions. I was having a conversation with a friend about the kinds of photography that I like to do. To be frank, I told him that I find anything outside of portrait photography boring–not because I can’t appreciate a perfectly composed still life snapshot, rather, there is something about capturing a portrait of someone you respect that inspires change and more creative ideas. People make up my moodboard!
4. P.S. GET YOURSELF AS MANY MENTORS AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE AND IF YOU CAN’T FIND ANY, SHOOT ME A MESSAGE.

“Back in my day…” JJ’s had a fully stocked overnight oat bar after 10pm with an eclectic array of yummy flavors, COOP was a week-long trip culminating in an awesome EC party with pre’s at McBain (?), and Chef Mike served Surf-n-Turf on these very frail blue plastic frisbees that would pile up by the recycling bins (keep CU sustainable : )))))).

Favorite Columbia controversy? Definitely the milk shaming controversy instigated by my buddy Jacob Kaplan’s opinion piece in Spec. Read all about it!

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Cult & Exploitation with Rob King. The films on this syllabus compose the only branch of the film canon that matters besides Marvel Phases 1-2.5 + Wandavision & Loki.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I think I’ve become lactose intolerant anyways thanks to Hewitt’s oat barista blend ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄

Whom would you like to thank? Jay, Bobo, Jane, Eva, Josh, Dennis, Christine, Brennan, Will (Park and Anderson), Alex Maddon, Vincent Le, Marco Balestri, Andrew Schur, Hadley Callaway, Nora Salitan, Linnea, Jacqueline, Jasmine, the entirety of Ratrock Magazine, the Kingsmen, Spec (even though Irie fired me on my way out–it’s okay, I am not resentful anymore…), Prem, Annie Kim, 1004 TAs throughout the years, Thomas Baker, JJ11, David and James, Julia and Anna, Moshab, Griffin Daly, Adam Cannon, Alece, Ken, Keith, the folks at the CAA, and my family––the list goes on and on. I love you with my whole heart. The impact you have had on me cannot be overstated.

One thing to do before graduating:

;)

Any regrets? I’ve lived, laughed, and loved. I couldn’t ask for more.

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