Our former EIC tells us to get over our fear of rejection!

Name, School, Major, Hometown: MD, SEAS, Biomedical Engineering Major and English Minor, from Pittsburgh, PA (go Steelers!!)

Claim to fame: Engineering EIC of Bwog <33, that extremely funny and so witty person who is on campus

Where are you going? To a place far, far away.

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

1. GO OUT!! Your homework will always be there, but these four years will not. Enjoy your time here and make the most of it. Your GPA feels like everything, but it will work itself out as long as you put in some amount of effort.
2. If the only thing holding you back is your fear of rejection, then just get over that fear and do it. Yes, it is easier said than done, but wouldn’t you rather live your life knowing you tried than to have never tried at all?
3. Office hours are the way to build those relationships, not only with your professors but with your peers. My first study group at Columbia was with another student whom I always saw at office hours, and she just kept growing and growing our group. My study group got me through Chem I and II, and literally carried me through Bio I and II.

“Back in my day…” The gates were open, and you could get on and off campus as you wished…

Favorite Columbia lore? Mudd used to be in the Math building, but now has its own building. In fact, one of the machines in the Mudd building is actually embedded into the bedrock of Manhattan and had the whole building built around it (#tourguides #ifykyk).

What was your favorite class at Columbia? I have too many to choose from…. In terms of English classes, Pre-History of Science Fiction and Drama, Theatre, and Theory are my top two. My favorite BME classes are hard to pick… I am between Foundations of Nanobio and Lab-on-a-Chip. Though truthfully, almost every class I’ve taken at Columbia has enriched me in one way or another, and I am extremely grateful for that.

Whom would you like to thank? My dear, dear family whom I love so much. To my mom, whom I would call about anything and everything, to my dad, who helps me solve simple and not-so-simple problems, to my sister, who was here in New York for me for three years and got me through it all, to my brother, who I could always call. To my suitemates, past and present, who are always someone right outside my door that I can count on and who know to never count on my room as being the spot to hang out <3. To my professors, whom I’ve cried to, my professors that I’ve sat in office hours just begging for the answers, and who have forced me to just solve it myself (thank you for that), to my professors who let me grab extras of things. To the USL community, who I LOVE going to get free stuff from (though I sadly missed the last study day). To my study groups who have carried my grades, and to my friends in BME and beyond, who are my familiar faces. To the security guards, facilities, and the dining hall staff who have seen me at my worst and my best and who have always been a smiling face for me. And to my best friend, Joshua. I love you so so much, you are the only person I can share everything with, and also let me express my feelings when and how I need to express them. You are my rock and my other half, and no amount of words could ever fully express how much you mean to me.

One thing to do before graduating? Go to the roof of Low !!! I regret not doing this…

Any regrets? Exploring a bit more classes!! I wish I had taken ceramics or something random…. But also taking over 21 credits for multiple semesters doesn’t give you much room to take any more classes.

MD via MD