Sung from the sundial.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Shania Pahuja, Barnard College, Economics and Math, Mumbai, India

Claim to fame: ‘College Walk Tree 1’ in The Varsity Show. Passionfruit marg girl at The Heights. Gin, water, lemon juice girl at 1020. XMAS! Reviver.

Where are you going? Across the street to SEAS

What are three things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of
2028?

  1. You get to choose your friends, and there are so many to choose from – so don’t be afraid to let go of the not-so-good ones, and hold on reeeeally tight to the good ones.
    Learn where your lines are, and don’t let people cross them (and don’t cross anyone else’s)
  2. Your four years here are going to feel like seconds, make the most of them, and mix your drinks with water.
  3. Say yes to going out because if you subway there you can Uber back.

“Back in my day…” We lined up outside of 1020 and ended our nights on Low Steps with Bluetooth speakers and concealed beverages, JJs was take-out but always had curly fries and dino nuggets, Fac House was a temporary Covid addition that only served salmon and mac and cheese and we all ate on the terrace overlooking the city, and Wang Pavilion was called the party space.

Favorite Columbia lore? When Covid was brewing, the 600 girlies couldn’t sign in the boys, and they would sneak them in through the service entrance and then got caught and had to go to disciplinary court.

What was your favorite class at Columbia? History and Practice of Producing with Steven & Erica, Acting Sondheim with Mana, Tap with Dormeshia, but also Game Theoretic Business Strategy with Gus?

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese?

Absolute Bagels, Sunday, 3 pm. Shania walks up to the counter. “Can I get a Bacon, Egg and Ch– sorry, oral sex”
JK I’d give up oral sex.

Whom would you like to thank?

The girls, the gays, and the boys that did my boy jobs.
My parents, Shirl, Ana, Taks, Liv, everyone in Footloose, Rocky Horror, V128, Beyond the Rain (Sammy), XMAS!17, XMAS!18, Latenite, OKR’s photos, my voice teacher Coralie, Allie for saving me and my shows, and the passion fruit frozen margs at The Heights.

One thing to do before graduating? The sundial is secretly a stage. Stand on it and sing your heart out.

Any regrets? Not studying abroad. Not learning about cold emails sooner. Not branching out more (I love the arts, but the arts are a lot)

Shania via Shania