Long live senior night!

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Michelle Z, Barnard, Computer Science, Los Angeles

Claim to fame: 2024-2025 Chinese Students Club (CSC) President, being posted by ex-Barnard President Beilock freshman year, and being run over by a car

Where are you going? I’m working in finance at Bank of America :) But before that…a senior trip with my friends!

What are three things you learned at Columbia and would like to share with the Class of 2030?

  1. Don’t be afraid if you get less than a 50 on an exam, especially in STEM majors! (there
    will usually be a BIG curve)
  2. It’s ok to not have a big friend group but instead a few individual close friends instead.
    They got me through college <3
  3. Don’t be the sloppy or crazy drunk at the party…trust you will regret everything the next
    day

“Back in my day…” we used to be able to sneak through the Barnard Chasity gates in the quad

What was your favorite class at Columbia? Technology, Religion, Future by David Kittay!!

Whom would you like to thank? I would like to thank my friends who were always there for me. For my day 1 at Barnard, Amelia for suffering through some of the worst classes at Columbia with me and for always being by my side. For my sophomore year roommate, who spent her time helping me with AP despite her own homework and coming to the ER with me and staying until 4 am two days before a final. For everyone who pulled an all-nighter with me in Butler (you know who all you are). Thank you to everyone for making my college experience so amazing! Also thank you to my family for always being there for me. To my older sister who had to help me prepare for interviews and had to answer every small question like how to write a professional email. To my younger sister that answered my facetime every day to hear my rant about my day. To my parents who constantly encouraged me even though I wasn’t sure if I was going to pass a class. Thank you to everyone!

One thing to do before graduating? Go to every senior night!!

Any regrets? I wish I had taken more religion classes earlier! That department is often overlooked but have been some of the best classes I took at Barnard/Columbia.

Michelle via Michelle