“I miss walking around campus and running into friends. It was amazing how amidst thousands of people, I would always see a few friendly faces on College Walk or the endless Hamilton stairs. I also miss Morningside Heights. The best feeling in the world was coming off the subway from a bustling neighborhood downtown and feeling at peace and at home.

“The Core Curriculum was a large part of what drew me to Columbia, and now that I have completed it, I can say that it was — without a doubt — the defining feature of my academic experience. I believe I am a more critical and compassionate person because of it. I truly believe that taking some version of the Core Curriculum is one of the best things you can do in your life, especially at this age, the start of adulthood.

“All of this being said, my greatest education was probably outside the classroom. The relationships I made changed me and formed me, and I am better for them.”