“You deserve to be here.”

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Victoria Arancio, BC, English with a concentration in Film, Hauppauge, NY 

Claim to fame: a former Bwog Managing Editor with a broken computer and some raw eggs (zzzz)

Where are you going? Running on trails because I am getting bored sitting inside at home. 

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

My sisters are entering college at the same time as all of you. I know how crazy uncertain everything is, so to save you some time and alleviate additional stress here are some tips:

  1. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You deserve to be here. You are loved. You will find your people. 
  2. JJs, Diana, Ferris, John Jay, Hewitt. This is the most accurate power-ranking of the dining halls from best to worst. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. Koronets over Famiglia, 1020 over Mel’s, Butler over Milstein, Tom’s milkshakes over Shake Shack milkshakes, and 115th street Halal reigns supreme.
  3. Study abroad if it makes sense for you. As a student on financial aid, reach out early to the Dean of Study Abroad to understand your options. I ended up paying less than I did at my school abroad than I would normally pay for Barnard. If you’re on the fence about it, go for it. 

“Back in my day…” Bwog had a rough website, JJ’s flooded, we played the Chainsmokers “Closer” unironically, and a drunk student got stuck in one of those columns in EC after they fell through the roof

Favorite Columbia controversy? Honestly anything anyone said in 1020 after 2 a.m. 

What was your favorite class at Columbia? I took History of the City of New York my first year by accident. I ended up going on amazing field trips, (like to the Intrepid Museum, you should definitely go there) and ended up going on an all-night bike ride with my class from MoHi to Brooklyn. I’m not sure if this class is offered anymore so if you want a real recommendation, I would suggest taking a creative writing course like Fiction and Personal Narrative. Non-English majors are welcome! I had the excuse to write creatively and get credit for it. 

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? I really think this is the question that causes Bwog to get its annual “Hey can you please take my Senior Wisdom down I don’t want my employer to see it” email 

Whom would you like to thank? First, to my family: you sacrificed so much to get me here. Thank you for supporting me with such love and enthusiasm. 

To all of my college friends, thank you for the love. I’ll miss our nook, the movie nights, Diana lunches, DND sessions, House 48, Koronets runs, trips out to Long Island, spontaneous karaoke sessions, fun weekend trips…. the list goes on. I am a better person because of all of you. 

To the Barnard English Department—you gave me so much confidence, not only in my writing but in my ability to think creatively elsewhere. 

To Bwog—what a ride we’ve had. I have written so many odd things because of the freedom and support that you have given me. When I was an unorganized mess, you still let me charge my phone in your computer’s USB port :'( Thank you for giving me sangria and flaming cheese. 

One thing to do before graduating: Stay up so late with friends that you watch the sunrise together. It doesn’t matter if you’re out or having a night in—it’s a really beautiful thing to do with someone. 

Any regrets? Buying a hamster and smuggling it into Brooks my first year, everything I did during NSOP (except finding some of the friends I have now), not appreciating Butler 6 sooner, eating exclusively in Hewitt my first year, not going to Appletree deli before I had to leave campus, never going to Arts and Crafts.

Header via Victoria Arancio