“What I most appreciate about my College experience is the Core, for igniting my interest in unexpected subjects and giving me a more nuanced, multifaceted way of looking at the world.

“To my fellow seniors, I feel tremendously grateful to have been your classmate for the past four years. I hope that each one of us will be able to achieve our dreams, and I will be excited to hear about what you do after Columbia.”

“Being quarantined has led to a greater appreciation for real, human relationships. Conversing with the staff in the dining halls, the baristas at Joe’s, the cashiers at Milano and the guys who run the halal carts (and give food to the homeless — shout out to Karim!) provided me with refreshing outlooks on life. Everyone has a story to tell. … And although this year we do not get a grand celebration of our achievements, we should celebrate the little successes. We’ve cultivated friendships and realized our passions. We’ve seen each other grow intellectually and personally.

“Columbia has undoubtedly changed me. My education has been dually humbling and exhilarating. Each day that I learned something new, I became increasingly aware of how much there is left to discover. Lit Hum taught me how to turn reading assignments into deeply personal explorations. Marketing management taught me that it’s not just what you say, but how you say it. Dance history taught me that everything performed today has roots in yesterday. Statistics taught me that facts vary with context. Oscar Wilde taught me that even the world’s best writers have their weaknesses.

“Columbia was the perfect combination of idealistic introspection and #NewYorkTough. It has taught me to be gentle and sensitive in my heart, and bold and fearless in my actions.”

“I’ve learned that community is what really matters. At the end of the day, it’s the experiences that you shared with others, the lives you touched and the lives that touched you that linger. We’re graduating at such a tough and uncertain time, and it may seem out of place to celebrate, but we’ve all come so far, and I’m so proud of us!”