Go frolic in the West Village.

Name, School, Major, Hometown: Abigail Fixel, Barnard, Anthropology-Jewish Studies (Archaeology) & Theatre (Directing), Jacksonville, FL

Claim to fame: Director of Indecent; 2x RA of the year; girl with every hair color; every freshman’s mom; Glicker Milstein Theatre Production Assistant; “it’s not my fault I’m from Florida!”; got approved to take a JTS class before Barnard students could; student theatre addict (31 productions – it’s masochism!!) 

Where are you going? To dig

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

• Sometimes, you just have to get off campus! I’ve made it my mission to leave at least once a week, even if that’s just to walk to my off-campus job. It’s opened up so much of the city for me. I’m the friend everyone asks to take them out when they turn 21 because I’ve just had such an opportunity to explore the city in depth. Don’t be afraid to go on solo adventures! Take yourself out!! You deserve a treat.
• When people say you won’t meet your lifelong friends during your freshman year, it really, really is true. I didn’t find my people until junior year, and that’s okay!! Don’t give up. And once you find them, it’s okay to be scared. Just remember that the people who truly love you won’t run away.
• Nothing will ever be exactly as it is at this very moment. Savor EVERYTHING. It’s perfectly normal for your community and your interests to drastically change throughout college (mine certainly did), but don’t worry about how permanent something might be in the moment. Just follow whatever brings you joy, no matter how often those things change.
• Bonus: Don’t say yes when people ask to interview you for the news because you go to Barnumbia and some big new thing is happening on campus. It’ll only lead to heartbreak and misquotes… Trust me.

“Back in my day…” We had desk attendants in the Barnard quad (#3/4yearsinthequad – I can’t wait to have a freaking kitchen again)… We had to get tested for COVID every two weeks and wear masks in class… Remember when we could sit on the grassy steps outside Diana? :(

What was your favorite class at Columbia? There’s no way I could pick just one (but I could totally pick a school: Barnard classes > Columbia classes all the way)…

Jews & Judaism in Antiquity with Seth Schwartz literally changed the trajectory of my life….

Lab Methods Archaeology & American Material Culture with Severin Fowles were the two classes that inspired me most to put extra time and effort into…

Acting in Paris with Gisela Cardenas brought me the best mentor…

Origins of Human Society with Camilla Sturm inspired me to follow my dreams (and not my wallet). 10/10 recommend.

Would you rather give up oral sex or cheese? How dare you ask me, a girl of nice sensibilities, such a grotesque question? _Cheese.

Whom would you like to thank? I’d like to thank the cast, crew, and creative team of Indecent for truly changing my life last year, a certain community who recently heard me give a “because of you, I finally like who I am” speech a few weeks ago (you know who you are), everyone at the Res Life office for being like family the past three years, my dad of blessed memory who is the reason I keep going, the theatre department (specifically Mike Banta – who holds the entire department on his shoulders), and Egypt at Liz’s (thanks for just getting me, girl). Special shoutout to my closest companion, The Heights’ frozen margarita with extra strawberry syrup. 

One thing to do before graduating? Go. Frolic. In. the. West. Village. If there’s one thing about me, I’ll never say no to a West Village frolic. 

Any regrets? Duh, yes. A million. But the silly ones are not smoking enough cigarettes on the steps, not kissing that person, not speaking my mind because I was afraid of being difficult, not raising my hand in class, and trying to change who I am to please other people (don’t do it!! It’s a bad idea!!).

Abigail via Abigail