Things get philosophical in today’s Senior Wisdom. This time we sat down with Shai Dollin to discuss rationalization of existence, regrets, and the real world.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Shai Dollin, joint program between Columbia School of GS and JTS, Neuroscience and Behavior major at Columbia and pre-med, and Talmud and Rabbinics major at JTS. I’m from Denver, CO aka the 303, yah there is a band named 303, they’re from CO.

Claim to fame: Yikes, good q, uhhhh I was on CAVA for 5 semesters and people still come to me for free EMT advice. I also love Judaism, science, and Israel.

Where are you going? I will be taking a year off to work in a bio research lab and apply to medical school.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2019? 

1. My favorite quote by Abraham Joshua Heschel, “When I was young I admired clever people, now that I am old I admire kind people.” Sometimes I feel like an old soul, but the people that had the biggest impact on my life were the ones who showed me and others kindness. Don’t underestimate its power and the positive impact it can make on yourself, your peers, your school, and your world.
2. Most of the time when people tell you things about their lives, they are just trying to make a connection and not trying to impress you or regurgitate their resume. Just listen and give them the benefit of the doubt. Most people are good, I have that on good authority from Professor Tory Higgins, a prominent Social Psychologist. You can quote me on that.
3. Take care of yourself, meaning eat healthy food, sleep 8 hours (I mean that, especially during finals), and exercise. These three things improve your health, mood, memory, and work efficiency so not doing these things is ultimately harmful to yourself and your GPA. Mind blown.
4. Sorry, one more, don’t take yourself so darn seriously, you’re only 18, you have your whole life to be serious.

Back in my day… Ha! Back in my day we had Maoz, a falafel place right near Columbia, and I ate there on the reg. Salad with all the topping up in here.

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: That’s the beauty of human existence, our existence does not need to be justified. We are all inherently and infinitely valuable, and those who disagree can come talk to me, I’m having office hours M, T, W, and R all day (said no one ever). I also may have misunderstood the question. Such is life, moving on.

What was your favorite class at Columbia: Social psychology with Tory Higgins, or Clinical Neuropsych with McCaskill, or History of Philosophy II.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? Bold q, I love cheese. Nough said.

One thing to do before graduating: Besides passing my finals, making a positive impact on a fellow student’s life.

Any regrets? I think the idea of regret is fundamentally bogus because mistakes are so important to the person you become. I have made many mistakes, and I am a smarter and better person because of them.

Photo provided by the Graduating Sage himself