Make your own way.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Sam Landa, GS ’22, Computer Science, Alexandria, VA

Claim to fame: Co-founding the Columbia Circus Collective, creating and directing “Circus Hamlet”

Where are you going? Idk to the circus??

What are 3 things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2026?

1. If there isn’t a club on campus for an activity you want to do, make one. 
2. Don’t let upperclassmen tell you how this school works, figure out how to make it work for you on your own. We’ve all had different experiences.
3. You need to fail, go through a bit of heartbreak, and all that. It’s for the best in the end.

“Back in my day…” Senior night was actually for seniors

Favorite Columbia controversy? Is chef Mike a real person?

What was your favorite class at Columbia? American Gay and Lesbian History with George Chauncey, easily.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? If the population is limited to just Columbia students…. definitely take the cheese.

Whom would you like to thank? My parents, Emma Owens for starting Circus Collective with me, Ronald Gregg for telling me to study Computer Science, Allie Emmerich for all the help with every show I’ve worked on at school, Ananya Chakravarthy for taking every. single. CS class. with me, the amazing friends I made along the way, and the casts and tems of all my shows that put up with my (sometimes a tad crazy) ideas.

One thing to do before graduating: Laugh your ass off on Low steps on the first warm day regardless of how much work you have, cry on Low steps in the middle of the night in the freezing winter with friends. Both are very cathartic.

Any regrets? Not starting the Columbia Circus Collective sooner. Taking advice from upperclassmen when I was a freshman who told me because they weren’t able to do something it isn’t possible here, especially in the performing arts.

Portrait via Sam