To the beach or to Canada? Maybe both.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Kate Mekechuk, Barnard College, Mathematics, Monte Sereno, California

Claim to fame: Publisher of Bwog

Where are you going? University of Toronto for a masters in mathematics (then PhD there too hopefully!)

What are three things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2029?

1. Don’t be afraid to change your major. You’re just a kid, and college is the time to explore your interests and discover your passions. Maybe you’ll end up going complete circle and realize that your original major was for you, or maybe you’ll start as a CS major and end up as an Anthropology major.
2. Allow yourself to make mistakes, but just try your hardest to grow and become a betterperson each step of the way.
3. New Yorkers are scary, but they are caring. Be a kind person in the city, and the city will be kind back to you. Smile at people walking down the street when you lock eyes for a second. Say thank you to those who hold the door open for you. Give a helping hand to someone who is lost. Your kindness will never go unnoticed.

“Back in my day…” We had to get Covid tests weekly and fill out a survey about our Covid symptoms every 24 hours or our CUIDs would stop working. You could show a photo of your vaccination card at 1020 or Mels (rip) in order to get into the bar.

Favorite Columbia lore? Barnard is named after a man.

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Epistemology with Professor Jessica Collins.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Maybe a hot take, but oral sex. In a world with no cheese, there is no alternative that might be just as good. However, with no oral sex… well, let’s just say there’s other ways to have just as much fun.

Whom would you like to thank? I would like to thank BWOG for introducing me to some really great people, my friends who have beef with Market Hotel, my sorority that gave me some normal college experiences, my math friends who taught me that being a nerd can be only part of my identity, and my professors who helped me find my passions.

One thing to do before graduating? Take the A all the way to Rockaway Beach. If you go to a further beach down the line, it won’t be crowded. The water is warm and clean there, and the sun will feel so good.

Any regrets? Do NOT take a major requirement class during the spring semester of senior year. I have to try so hard in the class, and my graduate school will actually care about the grade I get. So, take these classes before your last semester, and then you can just have fun in the spring!!

Kate Mekechuk via herself