Benjamin Schechner
What's been your most gratifying moment at Columbia?
I think we are a very eclectic crew. So one of the most gratifying moments is just one of those weekends or nights out where you hit a lot of different circles, a lot of different scenes. And so one group might be talking about Judaism, the next group, with a totally different group of people might be talking about Classics, the next group might be talking about biomedical ethics. And it's just, totally, totally different groups, different people, different opinions and I think that keeps you on your toes. I've been fortunate because I've had several of those nights. It's really gratifying that I can hit so many different scenes and have a range of experiences all within one night, from a really quiet, I guess intimate gathering, to the loud party that I don't know anyone at. And I think that we're so lucky that we can have this diversity of choice.
What's something you are looking forward to?
I'm looking forward to the next journey of life. Which sounds so cliché, and I want to take that back. But I'm excited to get to just - I'm very uncertain about what's going to happen next year, and I'm really excited to see what's actually gonna happen.
What do you think the title of your memoir would be?
Mistakes Were Made. It would be like, experiences were had, mistakes were made, but good times. Or something like that.
If you were leaving to start a new civilization, which three books would you take with you?
Which three books? Oh my god I don't read. Oh god. I just read this really good book called The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar, she goes to the business school. Ok. So I'd bring two other children's books. I would bring Harold and the Purple Crayon, because it really inspires me to be creative with whatever I do. And probably the Runaway Bunny, because that was just read to me all the time as a kid, and the idea that I can go anywhere but my family will always try to find me is forever present.