“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.

“Even though we all have gone through a life-changing pandemic, I still will graduate on time and married my best friend in Surprise, Ariz. All you need is love!”

“Through the events of this last semester I’ve realized that if the world can end, then anything within the world can end in a second. I never thought college would just end; it is too big. But it did, and it made me understand that nothing can be taken for granted.”

“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.