American University students have been forced to adapt in the face of the pandemic, and Sivan Menache is no exception. As a member of the class of 2021, Menache is one of many whose senior year will mostly be conducted virtually due to social distancing concerns. Despite this setback, the Business Administration major continues to look forward to the future. HCAU met virtually with Menache to discuss her experience at AU, lessons learned, and her celebrity crush, among other things.
What’s your favorite memory of AU?
That would have to be the Founders Ball of 2019 at the Udvar-Hazy Center. I remember just walking around and hanging out with my friend, Charlie, and eating hors d’oeuvres. It was a fun time to just relax and take a break from the semester.Â
What is your favorite thing to do in DC?
I love to visit the American History Museum, especially the first ladies exhibit with their dresses. I’m also a presidential history buff.Â
Who is your celebrity crush?
It’s a tie between Timothée Chalamet and Niall Horan. If you follow me on Insta, you already know.
What’s something you’ve learned from college that was life-changing?
You can’t live your life based on what others will think of you. You have to make your own decisions. Also, friendship is a two-way street. People will either make the effort, or they won’t, but don’t chase them.
Have you ever changed majors? What was that like?
I’ve always been a Kogod student, but I switched from Accounting to Business Administration after I took a managerial accounting class and realized it was not for me.
What was your favorite building on campus and why?
My favorite building is probably Kogod because of the terrace level lounge. I like working with classmates there and walking into professors in the hallways.
Tell us about your experience studying abroad.
I studied abroad in Rome, Italy, for six weeks at John Cabot University. I was living in the dorms with other American students. I really enjoyed being able to interact with other study abroad participants and go on little organized trips with them. However, it was difficult to find a core group of people to hang out with because I was only there for six weeks (due to the pandemic) which didn’t allow me to make a lot of long-lasting friendships, except for my friend, Mary, from Nigeria. I had the opportunity to go with her on a weekend trip to Florence right before I was sent home due to COVID-19. Mary and I still keep in contact.
Right now, I’m involved with the community service fraternity on campus, Alpha Phi Omega (APO). I’ve been involved with APO since my second semester sophomore year, and I’m currently serving as the Secretary, managing the chapter’s social media and correspondence. I love the friendships and the volunteer opportunities that the organization provides me with. I’m also involved with AU’s acapella group, TenLi Tunes. It provides me with a connection to the Jewish community while also combining my personal love for singing. Due to the pandemic, it’s been difficult to be involved with TenLi Tunes this semester, but I’m still an active member.
What was your favorite class at AU?
Cultural Environment of International Business with Professor Sarah Mady. I loved being able to learn how national culture can impact management styles and techniques. In one of our group projects we had to create a metaphor to describe the business environment of Ireland.
What are your plans for after graduation? How do you feel about it?
After graduation, I would like to work in digital marketing and social media marketing, perhaps for a large international company. I’d also like to stay in D.C., but I’m open to wherever I find a job. There’s a part of me that’s starting to mentally prepare for the real world. I’m nervous, but I’m also confident about the future. Mostly, I’ll miss the friends I’ve made at AU.
Sivan Menache is a Business Administration major at AU with a focus in marketing and international business. She is originally from York, Pennsylvania.