This daddy long legs is going places.

Name, School, Major, Hometown:
Audrey Chang / CC’20 / Neuroscience & Economics / Los Altos Hills, CA

Claim to fame: 
Starting a dance group (NuDance), other dancing, and generally overachieving. But will most likely be immortalized for qualities including: easily bruising, being an unexpected heavyweight, and possessing (proudly sporting) daddy long legs.

Where are you going?
For now, investment banking.  In a few years, med school (let’s see how this ages).  

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2024?

1. Learn how to advocate for yourself.  No one else will do it for you—whether it’s with Columbia bureaucracy, organizations, internships, social climbers, or exes.  This comes from personal experience.  As a relatively non-confrontational person, I have regrettably allowed people to step on me to get what they want.  I could go on about this, but in short: know your worth and don’t let people take advantage of that.  Always show up and speak up for yourself, your education, and your well-being.
2. As it stands, I don’t like studying in libraries—so I “study” on Low Steps when it’s sunny instead.  It’s integral to find yourself a good Low Steps/Butler Lawn squad.  Sunny days in NY during the school year are rare, so capitalize on them when they happen.
3. Eat one bowl of mandarin oranges from the Ferris salad bar a day.  It’s good vitamin C.  I ate one every day during my freshman year, and I’d say I peaked at that time (even though I was constantly sick for a year).  Ferris is also a very underrated first date location.  I (unknowingly) had my first “date” with my boyfriend there, and we’ve been together for 2.5 years now.

“Back in my day…” 
HamDel was open until 3am, Amigos on Tuesdays, M2M still existed, physical keys for Lerner mailboxes, University Housewares and Hardwares were different stores, the Lambda house on 114th, JJ’s didn’t have their own smoothies, and Senior Night was at Bernheim & Schwartz.  Lots has changed.

Favorite Columbia controversy?
Columbia’s time management chart that allotted 2 hrs/week for “personal hygiene”  and proceeded to ask “Why do I want free time, anyway?”

What was your favorite class at Columbia?
Hot take: Organic Chemistry Lab was my favorite class at Columbia.  I think I’ve laughed more in that class than I have ever in any academic setting.  May also be my favorite because it was in this class that someone told me that I was “their favorite undergrad pre-med”.  Huge honor.
Otherwise, Brain and Memory with Dr. Mariam Aly—Dr. Aly is one of the nicest, most understanding people in a science department at Columbia.  She’s also wildly smart and has challenged the way I think about neuroscience in everyday life.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese?
Not really a big fan of cheeses—It is my opinion that no culinary creation is vastly improved by the addition of cheese.  Fight me.  Probably the single most confusing thing I’ve encountered at Columbia was how wildly popular the Cafe East cheese + grape bowls are.

Whom would you like to thank?
Family, EC1806, CLC2223, VNY2000, Rice Club, Friday Hot Pot, back line squad at CU Gen, everyone at NuDance Contemporary, anyone who ever coerced me to go to Senior Night, all my moms.
Honorable mentions: Szechuan Garden lunch special, Snapple peach tea, HamDel sausage/egg/cheese, Morton Williams frozen food section, Five Guys fries, HMart scallion pancakes.

One thing to do before graduating: 
Senior gala, senior boat cruise, 40s on 40, senior week, senior champagne toast, etc. I like lists.

Any regrets? 
Not taking advantage of Szechuan Garden lunch specials until senior year.  Also, not going to The Jane enough.