2023 Graduates Weigh In on Books, Mentors, Classes, and More

Columbia News asked undergraduates and graduate students who are in the final days at the university for their thoughts on: 

• a book that had a profound impact on them during their time at Columbia,
• the best-kept secret spot on campus to read that book,
• the name of a class they took at Columbia that moved them,
• a professor they would like to thank,
• what they will miss about Columbia, and 
• advice to the next generation of Columbians.

Here are some of their responses.

These have been edited in some cases for clarity and brevity. If you are a 2023 graduate, and would like to weigh in, please fill out this form, and we will do our best to update these responses. 

Zaynab Abdi

School of International and Public Affairs

Favorite Class

Universal Food Security. I learned so much about food security, agriculture, lack of resources in developing countries—even in the U.S.—and how people use resources, see climate change, and ways to fight global food insecurity.

Miss Most

The huge diversity here, and how people make you feel at home.

Advice

Take advantage of everything and enjoy every moment of your time at Columbia.

Sarah Akison

Barnard College

Favorite Book

John Green’s The Anthropocene Reviewed. That book helped me appreciate New York City in unique and interesting ways.

Favorite Class

U.S. Gay and Lesbian History. Coming from the Midwest, I didn’t learn much about queer history in high school. Taking that class opened my eyes, especially as a queer person.

Mentor

I would like to thank Professor George Chauncey, who taught U.S. Gay and Lesbian History. He encouraged us to go out and do our own research, and to find our own history, which I think is a beautiful, inspiring thing to do.

Miss Most

All of the friends that I made here, because we all come from different places, and I never would have interacted with people like them back home.

Jonathan Chen

Columbia College

Favorite Book

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. My favorite spot to read it was on the fourth floor roof of Milstein Hall.

Mentor

I’d like to thank James Shapiro, my Shakespeare in America professor. I’d like to give him a shout-out for all the time I spent with him during office hours, and how much he invested in me and my work.

Miss Most

Hanging out on the lawns during the Bacchanal festivities. Being present with the rest of the university on a day in springtime is an experience that I’m going to cherish and never forget.

Zheoqul Ching Lee

Columbia College

Favorite Class

Contemporary Civilization. Reading all of those books by philosophers, social activists, etc. helped me to understand how Western thoughts and values have been shaped, from the Roman empire to nowadays. It helped me as an international student to understand the culture where I was studying.

Mentor

My literature professor, Steve Baker. He helped me immerse myself in a different culture and understand the texts. He used different forms of teaching—lectures, discussions, even debates. I went to him multiple times during office hours. He was super helpful. The analysis he provided of those texts helped me to dive deeper into them.

Miss Most

Sitting in the Butler Library stacks and chatting with my friends about so many different things.

Lily Drabkin

Teachers College

Favorite Book

The Success Factor by Teachers College alum Ruth Gotian. I like to read at the Joe Coffee in the Northeast Corner Building, overlooking TC's beautiful facade. I also enjoy reading on Low steps in the morning, and watching students walk to class.

Favorite Class

How Adults Learn with Professor Arthur Langer, who is everything a professor should be—dynamic, engaging, clever, and funny.  I am thankful for his storytelling, humor, and dedication to student success. Being first his student, and then his TA, has been my favorite part of my Columbia journey.

Miss Most

Working with the Food Pantry at Columbia. I've volunteered with this organization throughout my time at CU, and I am sad to say goodbye.

Juan Escalante

School of General Studies

Favorite Class

Black Film and Media with Professor Raquel Gates. As we all know, it means a world of difference for kids of color to see themselves represented, no matter how small it may be. For this, and for going above and beyond, I will be eternally grateful to you, Professor Gates.

Richard Estrella

School of International and Public Affairs

Mentor

I’d like to thank Professor Stephen Friedman. He led Storytelling for Social Impact. He showed us that all stories must be told for the greater good.

Miss Most

Volleyball open plays at the Columbia gym. It became a family of free-spirited individuals, with sports as a way to cope with academics, create community, and capitalize on our own strengths.

Aurely Garcia Tulloch

Teachers College

Mentor

I would like to thank Professor Nicole Johnson. She made my experience at Teachers College welcoming. I absolutely love you so much. From one Jamaican to another, I want to say thank you for representing us.

Advice

Talk to as many faculty and staff as you can. Find networking opportunities wherever you can. Getting a job after Columbia is easier when you know alumni and others who can help you.

Roy Halvorsen

Teachers College

Best Book

The Complete Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S. Grant. The perfect spot to read it was the General Grant National Memorial, a block from my apartment.

Best Class

Loss and Trauma with George Bonanno. His research into resilience—especially with military veterans, military families, and military personnel—is what got me interested in applying to Teachers College. Hearing more about the research, and playing some part in future contributions to his study, was memorable.

Mentor

I’d like to thank Joseph Carl Geraci for being my adviser and professor. I’m thankful for his work and the time he spent with me.

Advice

First, have confidence in yourself. You made it to Columbia, so don’t ever forget that. I had a bit of impostor syndrome when I got here, but after the first semester, my confidence was re-instilled because I demonstrated my abilities and my knowledge.  So remember that you brought yourself here. Continue to show your strengths.

Erik Larsson

Columbia College

Favorite Book

Michel de Montaigne’s Essays had a profound impact on me. I loved reading that book at the Law School bridge on a sunny day.

Favorite Class

Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence with Raphaël Millière has shaped what I want to do with the rest of my life.

Mentor

I’d like to thank Nicole Callahan. During my sophomore year, she created a really warm environment, even though we were all on Zoom.

Advice

You’re here to grow not just professionally or academically, but also personally.

Anais Lawson

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Favorite Class

My freshman seminar, U Writing (short for University Writing). I took the genders and sexuality section. Before coming to Columbia, I was not as educated on the impact that gender and sexuality have on the communities that we’re involved in, especially my identity as a Black woman. I read a lot of insightful texts.

Mentor

Professor Hadley Suter impacted me profoundly. She taught me French, and she pushed me to explore my passion for French by learning the language beyond the course, and even to try to find a career in it. Thank you for opening my eyes to future opportunities. I’ll be forever grateful.

Anthony Ma

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Favorite Book

The Aeneid. The best place to read that book on campus is near the fifth floor window of Lewisohn Hall.

Favorite Course

Intro to East Asian Civilizations, Japan. Professor Gregory Pflugfelder talked about the ways the samurai have impacted the different periods of Japanese history.

Miss Most

Coming out of Dodge late at night, when you walk across campus to Low, and you see a sea of lights across the marble railings all the way to Butler. It creates a shimmering, glowing effect.

Advice

Try as many new activities as you can on campus. There are so many different groups and clubs, and people interested in cool things. If you branch out and keep an open mind, you’ll find new, interesting hobbies, and fun people to hang out with.

Xena Maayah

Columbia College

Mentor

Professor Ansaf Salleb-Aouissi. An incredibly supporting and kind professor, who is always rooting for her students!

Miss Most

The beautiful campus and how close everything felt. Living on campus was one of the best experiences I’ve had at Columbia!

Robert McCloskey

Columbia College

Favorite Book

The Iliad. It showed me that life is an adventure, that there are so many things yet to come, and that you should be ready to face all of them.

Favorite Course

The American Presidency. It taught me a lot about how much power the U.S. president has.

Mentor

I want to thank Joseph Ulichny, my general chemistry lab professor. He taught me to be myself, and to never be afraid to ask questions.

Miss Most

Honestly, JJ’s. They have really good chicken burgers, and the quesadillas are fire.

Advice

People here are very nice. Be yourself and you’ll find your people.

Shivangi Mewada

Mailman School of Public Health

Mentor

Helen de Pinho. She was my instructor for my favorite class, the Integration of Science and Practice in Leadership. She has supported me, since my first semester. I was also lucky to work with her during the third semester. I’m very grateful and thankful for all her personal attention.

Miss Most

The sense of community. Columbia has the most diverse community, where each and every one can be there for another, regardless of where a person comes from. As an international student, I have appreciated that.

Advice

It’s going to be hectic and stressful, being a part of Columbia, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So do not miss out on anything. Make the most of all the resources here.

Aurelian Mohan

School of International and Public Affairs

Best Books

There are two: The Great Divide by Joseph Stiglitz, and Until the End of Time by Brian Greene. The best spot to read is the 15th floor of the SIPA building.

Best Class

Brian Greene’s Origins and Meaning. It changed my life. It’s one of the best ways of understanding the beginnings and the possible ends of the universe.

Mentor

Daniel Naujoks because he is not only one of the best SIPA professors, but also an amazing and involved supervisor.

Shatize Pope

School of General Studies

Favorite Book

Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble because I specialize in women and gender studies.

Favorite Spot

Down by the Hudson River in Riverside Park. I tend to go by the water because it’s peaceful.

Favorite Class

International Human Rights Law, which opened my eyes to a lot of the work that still needs to be done in the world.

Mentor

My International Human Rights Law professor, Christian De Vos. He was amazing. Since I’m a student who’s also a parent, he was accommodating, and he helped me through a lot because he’s a parent himself.

Miss Most

As a single parent, getting accepted to Columbia was a dream. I did not believe it, I kind of still don’t believe it. So just being on campus with all the historic buildings and the atmosphere, being able to partake in the different activities, I’m going to miss it all.

Dionne Regis

Teachers College

Favorite Class

Multicultural Psychopathology. It allowed us to engage in discussion about how we can work together in the United States to promote psychology among different ethnic and sexual groups.

Mentor

I would like to thank Rashidah Bowen White, one of my first professors at Teachers College, for always encouraging me and allowing me to be strong. As a professor of color, a Black woman, you have inspired me to continue pursuing my PhD in a space that doesn’t have a lot of people like us.

Miss Most

All the basketball and football games. I am a proud Columbia Lion. I was there, right in the front row, when we won the Ivy Championship. I’m going to miss wearing my blue and white. Go Lions!

Kennedy Salamat

School of Engineering and Applied Science

Favorite Class

French Language and Theater. It pushed me out of my comfort zone.

Mentor

I’d like to thank Professor Martha Kim for all of her support. I took Fundamentals in Computer Systems with her, and it was a pleasure working with her, and TA’ing for her.

Miss Most

Ski Club. It’s been such a big part of my experience here. It’s a wonderful community.

Advice

Enjoy your time here. It goes so quickly. Join as many clubs as you can. Have a great time, take the classes you want, and make sure that you have fun, so you create memories.

Kumar Vivek

School of International and Public Affairs

Favorite Book

Free Trade and Prosperity by Arvind Panagariya, one of my favorite professors here. It’s about the impact of free trade on the economic prosperity of a nation.

Favorite Class

Fundamentals of Podcast taught by Professor Katie Shefford. I was always interested in making podcasts, because conversation creates an impact, getting to know people and getting to know their stories. I took this class during my first semester, and it was moving to hear so many stories from people with different nationalities, backgrounds, and histories.

Mentor

Professor Arvind Panagariya. I took International Trade with him in my first semester, and I also became his teaching assistant in the fall semester last year. He gave me so many moments to shine and explore my talent and skills.

Miss Most

I will miss everything about Columbia, but the one thing I will miss most is the people. I was counting the number of people who I know from different countries, and I created a list. I now have friends from 45 different nations. I will have so many wonderful memories with these people for when I go back to India after graduation.

Kyrie Woodard

Barnard College

Favorite Class

Inequality and Poverty, which taught me a lot about economic development, and helped me decide to go into economic development for my master’s degree.

Mentor

I’d like to thank Ashley Timmer for my time here. She answered incessant questions about economic development, how to pursue a master’s, how to go about economic development research, and how to travel abroad to do that research. She always answered my emails, no matter how many I sent.

Advice

No matter how hard it gets, I promise that you can do it, you can get through four years of this.

Kartikaye Yadav

School of Professional Studies

Advice

I wish that I could have this moment at Columbia for life, so cherish it, and make the most of it.