Hattie Jean Shaw clearly seized the day during her time at Columbia; learn how she did it by reading her Senior Wisdom!

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Hattie Shaw or Hattie Jean or Mom, Barnard College, Africana Studies, Washington, DC, proper, my phone number starts with 202 and zip code starts with “200.”

Claim to fame: I was probably your Barnard class of 2019 friends’ RA their first year and am now definitely friends with nearly every POC member of the Barnard class of 2021; being both a g-body and e-board member of the best club on Columbia-Barnard’s campus – The Barnard Organization of Soul Sisters that meets every Tuesdays from 9-10:30 pm in the Zora Neale Hurston Lounge next to the first floor Brooks Hall elevator.

Where are you going? Immediately after graduation? Back to DC for three weeks of hibernation before I start summer work for two fun years of graduate school as a part of my teaching fellowship! In life? Hopefully up.

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2023?
1. Not every relationship you form here will last forever (or even for the four years) and that is okay. Appreciate the people around you in the moment, they’re likely going to help you learn something about yourself or about others. The relationships that last might shock you. You will probably also become friends with a whole slew of fantastic people in your senior year and then have to leave them and that’s just life.

2. Listen to yourself above and beyond listening to anyone else about you. This does not mean to not take advice or counsel from others, but knowing who you are and what you need first and foremost is invaluable. Learning to listen to and advocate for yourself is an indispensable capability, striving to do so through the undergrad years is a great idea.

3. Self-care is important but community care will sustain you. Isolating myself during difficult times had its benefits, but I was only ever really healed if I leaned and relied on my community. Without a village, making it through this place is infinitely more difficult. “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

“Back in my day…” Barnard students had to be swiped into JJ’s, Hewitt had late night (and it included tater tots), Barnard’s library (ALLEGEDLY) had asbestos, Barnard Seniors took their grad photos under Maggie the Magnolia (may she rest in pieces), Barnard had Dean Avis Hinkson, and I was heterosexual.

Favorite Columbia controversy? Nearly every Columbia controversy involves racism, but I will say that Bacchanal 2016 and the fallout of Rae Sremmurd’s performance was an interesting 72 hours.

Justify your existence in 30 words or fewer: Everything I do is to make schools and life better for little Black girls (and therefore everyone else).

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Third World Studies with Gary Okihiro. A 70 year old, 5 foot 4 inch tall man lectured us for 3 hours a week about how Columbia and the United States of America as a whole are imperialist institutions and how much capitalism was inherently racist. It was incredible. He got tired of putting up with Columbia’s foolishness and went to Yale last Spring, but I had a great time in his course.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I’m already lactose intolerant and I’ve heard some of those vegan cheese alternatives SLAP….so definitely giving up cheese.

Whom would you like to thank? My mother (though I wouldn’t let her read this), Alicia Simba, Sulz Tower 12B, assorted friends, my therapist and my psychiatrist (the TRUE MVPs), and corrupted files.

One thing to do before graduating: Get some sleep. Read a book.

Any regrets? There are things I wish I had done differently, but I don’t believe in regrets, life is way too short for that, just keep moving forward. :)