#gs student

[createcolumbia]

Isaac Hurskin

What's been your most gratifying moment at Columbia?

Well this is a little bit lame I guess, but I like that fact that I did really well in a certain class that had to do with, it was a social science class with a big professor, and it was really gratifying that I didn't think I understood everything, anything at all. But yeah she personally said - it was a big lecture class so like - and she really liked my work and she gave me a good grade, like a really good grade, and has set me up for research projects which I thought was really awesome, so. It's a little bit vague but yeah, should be more. This was a global urbanism class with Saskia Sassen. So it was good when a big professor likes what you've done. 

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

I guess, it would've been to save up more money in my spare time so that I could travel more than I have. I still haven't been to India yet, so I'm looking forward to going there. And I want to travel around Africa a bit.

What's your worst prejudice?

I guess, I guess it's trying to accept maybe certain people's point of views, political views, and being more open to perhaps right wing views, a little bit more than I'm doing. 

What do you like to do on a Saturday night?

Oh, just a bar with a few friends. Local bars in New York. Once every few Saturdays I like going to clubs with electronic music, things like that.

[createcolumbia]

Adele Hunter

What's been your most gratifying moment at Columbia?

I guess being part of the frisbee team. I really wanted to try something new when I arrived at Columbia, and frisbee was definitely very new. And just being, being really welcomed right away, and being able to start something new, it was just, I'm really glad I did it. 

Describe your generation in one word?

Haha. I guess innovative. Yeah, I guess I would use innovation. Just like with of all the changes we've experienced throughout our lifetime. Like, when you think about when we were born, what we had access to technology-wise, and what we have access to now, it's just changed so much, and it's mostly thanks to like, not only our generation, but in a large part. 

When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a superhero. But my version of a superhero wasn't like, superman, and like that. It was like, it's gonna sound really corny, but I feel like my parents were my superheroes in a sense. Which is like, I don't want to... When I was little I saw no faults in my parents you know? Like, they were my idols. And so, I wanted to be like, able to do it all, and when I was four that's what I thought, that my parents could do it all, so yeah. That sounds really corny. That was an honest answer though!

What's your favorite thing to do by yourself?

These are really hard questions! By myself... Maybe like, going running, or reading a book. Which are two very different things, but it's nice to be able to do that by yourself every once in a while. 

[createcolumbia]

Serena Mackool

What's been your most gratifying moment at Columbia?

Probably getting that first A, and knowing I belong here, and that I can do it. I had been out of academia for 5 years when I came back to school, like I hadn't even written anything, didn't know how to use powerpoint, so it was a good feeling. 

What would a good surprise be right now?

A good surprise would be a really good friend showing up with some hot chocolate. 

What do you think is the most important word in the English dictionary?

Hm. That's a good question. I think that...This could sound crazy, but I think self could be the most important word in the English dictionary. The concept of identity is very important. I think people become what they think they are, so yeah, the concept of identity is very important. You shape yourself. 

What's something you think everyone should do before they die?

I think everyone should have the opportunity to go to some sort of visual arts, whether it be theatre or dance or just a museum experience, where they feel a very strong bond or relationship, where they're moved by what it is they're seeing. I think because I was a dancer I recognized that having those experiences changes you and makes you more aware of your own self, again to bring that word up. And I think it contributes to understanding yourself. 

[createcolumbia]

Jemille Bailey

What's been your most gratifying moment at Columbia?

I think finally picking my major. It's poli sci. Just declared! I've made a major decision in my life, so yeah. 

What will people remember you for?

Usually people remember me for my laugh, but, what are people gonna remember me for? Oh gosh, that's a hard one, I'm still working on that! I would like it to be my work in the community, like setting policy, and changing public policy. I would like that to be it. 

What's something you wish people knew about you?

Oh gosh... I wish people I guess knew kind of how hard of a time I had for the 10 years, like 15 years, between High School and here, and like, I don't, you know it wasn't all easy like kid roller coaster. So like, you know  what I mean? It's kind of a big deal I'm here, and like, even though I'm kind of reserved, it's usually a big deal for me. I take it very seriously, it's really not a game. So a lot of times I don't have time, or I don't socialize I think in the same way as some people who maybe just finished with High School, and it's like this adventure, and for me it's really like, work. 

If you only keep one memory, what would it be?

I would definitely say... If I could only keep one... For some reason what's popping up to me right now is me and my grandma going to get ice cream at Thrifty's (a store), we always used to get cones, and I don't even think Thrifty's exists anymore, but it was fun. We were really close. She was... Oh my goodness. She was really funny, but like, she had a dry humor. And like, she loved I Love Lucy and Three's Company, oh my god she loved that show. And she had a little dog named Mimi, who was a little white poodle, and we used to walk her around, and she would hum a lot. She had this voice kind of like, a cross between Bille Holiday and Josephine Baker, it was really weird. So she would hum in high pitched but sultry tones around the house, it was very odd, but yeah, she was very cool.