As much as we might like to pretend it’s never going to happen, the day is drawing close when our favorite seniors are going to accept their diplomas and walk away from Morningside Heights. In an effort to capture everything these seniors have to share before they take off into post-grad life, Her CampusĀ Columbia Barnard is running a series of profiles of some of our favorite members of the Class of 2018. This week, we’re chatting withĀ Chandler Precht,Ā a Barnard College student graduating with a degree inĀ Environmental Studies, Spanish and Latin American Studies, and Chemistry.
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What are your post-college plans?
Currently Iām applying for a job, hopefully in environmental consulting. But I recently got into grad school, into the Masters of Science in Sustainability Science at Columbia. Itās a brand-new program!
How do you feel about being a āguinea pigā for a new program?
Itās exciting! The curriculum is great, the classes sound awesome, and the professors are obviously amazing. Arthur Lerner-Lam is the director of the program, and thereās a class on ocean and corals thatās taught by Brad Linsley. That class is going to be great as well. Iām excited that people havenāt taken these classes before because I wonāt come in with any preconceived ideas.
So youāre living in the city?
Thatās the plan! But I still havenāt found an apartment or anything. First things first, I need to find a job and once I find the job then I can figure out the apartment or living situation.
So youāre remaining in school, and at the same school. Are there clubs and activities you think you might continue, or new ones that you want to try?
I donāt know if Iāll have time. Iāll be doing school part time and hopefully have a job full time and might notĀ have time for those extra-curriculars. Iād also like to expand my social life outside of the college scene; I think itās time to grow a little bit socially, emotionally, etc. I donāt necessarily know if Iāll have time for clubs on campus. Ā But I do love CU Scientists and Engineers for a Better Society! I was President last year and Iām a student advisor this year, so I could see myself definitely going to meetings and all their events. Then again, I also donāt know what grad clubs are available. I think Iāll figure it out next year once I get my bearings.
What is your biggest fear about leaving college and going off into the real world?
Thatās hard! I think itās trying to maintain the friendships that I made here. Theyāre great right now, most likely because I see my friends all the time, but I think itās going to be so difficult when we all branch out and leave. Everybody goes off in their own direction, whether theyāre going to grad school or working full-time or moving halfway across the world. I donāt really know what everybodyās plans are right now. I think everybody is a little bit concerned about how weāre all going to maintain friendships if we donāt end up in the same place. So I think thatās my biggest fear: trying to navigate that social aspect of trying to make new friends but also maintaining the ones that I made here. And Iāve definitely grown apart from a lot of my high school friends, which I hope doesnāt happen with the friends that Iāve made here. But,Ā itās possible.
What was your best opportunity over your 4 years in college?
All the geology field trips were unbelievable! But I think the best opportunity that Iāve had here was getting an internship at the Earth Institute the summer after my freshman year. I think that was a saving grace for me. At first I didnāt have any plans, but I knew that I wanted a job after freshman year. Cedalia Rodriguez from the Environmental Science Department had been my freshman year academic advisor, and I told her that I was concerned about summer plans. All of a sudden, when Iām already home in Miami, she sends me an email and suggested that I apply for the position. Even though I was already back home, I applied and ended up getting it, and Iāve been working there ever since. So many good things have come from it. Iāve made a lot of great connections, and I love the Earth Institute. I think that would be the best opportunity that Iāve had here at Columbia.
Whatās one thing that youāll be happy to leave behind when you leave?
Barnard Administration. ResLife, Financial Aid, all the deans. I want to get out and away from the bureaucracy. The Bursar especially; Iāve been dealing with them in a very negative way for almost all my time here. Thatās what Iāll be very happy to leave behind.
Whatās one thing you regret in your time here?
I think I regret a lot – well, not necessarily regret, but there are many things that I would do differently. As Iāve gotten older Iāve learned a lot about friendships and communication. I think that I could have navigated some of my friendships a little bit better here at college. But I wouldnāt even say thatās my biggest regret. I actually think that it would be not taking more advantage of the resources here. For example, I didnāt know there was an Italy trip for geology. Had I known, I would have been there in a heartbeat! So, I wish I would have been more on top of all the academic and enriching opportunities that Columbia offers, because there are just so many of them.
Any advice for underclassmen?
Be persistent. Just be persistent. Youāre not going to get anything out of just sitting back and letting people walk all over you. You really need to keep pushing for what you want. Youāre paying and working really hard to be here, you worked really hard to get here, so be persistent. Donāt let anybody tell you no.
What do you still have left to do in your short time here?
I have a lot to still do! But I think Iām ready to go, because Iām staying here, even though itās in a different way. I think Iām ready to walk across that stage! Well, I mean I do have to finish my thesis, there is that. But I think that Iāve done everything; Iām good!
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Thank you, ChandlerĀ for your amazing reflections and insights. We wish you the best of luck in the post-grad world!