The Glamour and Clamour: Columbia University
» Japanese
by SHEN Yue, Singapore
High School: Raffles Junior College, Singapore
Study abroad: Columbia University, USA
While studying in Columbia University in 1929, Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca explored New York City and fell in love with “its extra human architecture, its furious rhythm, its geometry and anguish.” Likewise, the American poet, novelist and playwright Langston Hughes spent his undergraduate years exploring Columbia’s neighbourhood, Harlem, and later contributed to the Harlem Renaissance during the 1920s and 1930s.
Indeed, it is hard to separate Columbia University from the city. Situated in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in lower Manhattan, Columbia encompasses the rhythm and the vibe of the cosmopolitan city. One train (Red Line One) takes you to the iconic, “Crossroads of the World” - Time’s Square, where I witnessed how a city turned from anticipation to jubilation when Barack Obama, a Columbia alumnus, swept to a clean Presidential victory on US Election Day 2008. It is also the place where I experienced the world-famous ball drop count-down celebration for New Year’s Eve 2008. I was corralled into barricaded areas where I waited for 5 hours with 1 million revelers at -10 degree Celsius temperature for the clock to strike twelve at midnight. Though on the verge of hypothermia, I must say this experience is one of the most memorable ones I took away from my year spent in New York.
The heartland of Columbia University is a diverse and vibrant place as well. This is a school steeped in stories, old and new. Founded in 1754, Columbia is one of the oldest universities in United States. From the main gate of Columbia, one can amble down the beautiful tree-lined College Walk to see the historic, neo-classical campus. On a sunny day, Columbia students will gather on “The Steps”, alternatively known as the “Low Steps”, which refers to a long series of granite steps leading from the lower part of the campus to its upper terrace and its ancient Low Library. Besides those who gather to converse, read, sunbath or eat outdoor, “The Steps” occasionally plays host for film screenings, concerts, festivals and even flea markets. These steps are also where Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and Harold Ramis hatched their business plan in the1984 science fiction comedy film Ghostbusters. More recently, these steps were featured in the 2002 blockbuster Spiderman when James Franco’s character was dropped off there by his father. Coincidentally, James Franco, as well as many other Hollywood celebrities, is currently studying at Columbia University. So don’t be surprised if you bump into a mega star when you walk around the school one day.
For all of its glamour, I believe that Columbia University’s greatest asset lies in its community of 30,000 students, faculty and staff from over 150 countries. In the dorm apartment which I shared with a French boy, an Austrian boy, a Chinese-Canadian girl, a Pakistani boy and finally an half-Indian American girl (my roommate), there was no end to the fun of living under the same roof. My roommate and I would listen to songs such as American indie rock band Of Montreal’s "Let's Pretend We Don't Exist" for what seemed like forever in our dorm room which overlooked Broadway. For our regular dorm dinner, we would work together to prepare Tom Yam Gung, Chawan-mushi, Coconut rice with mango and pineapple and whatever international cuisine that came to our minds. When the weather allowed, we would even cross one avenue, walk a couple blocks and head into Riverside Park for a rare winter picnic. Despite its many random events, life at Columbia University doesn’t lack formalities and classy traditions. Every now and then, I would be invited to attend formal dinners by my friends who belonged to fraternities and sororities. During such dinners, everyone would stand up and speak for a few minutes before toasting to the head of the fraternities or the sororities.
“All play and no work makes Jack a dumb boy” - a vibrant social life is not complete without an equally dynamic academic life. In fact, Columbia’s expansive choice of courses and high caliber professors are the main factors which attracted me to apply for its exchange program. True enough, I was captivated by the abundance of courses there. From Challenges of Sustainable Development by Jeffrey Sachs, to New York Theatre by Steven Chaikelson, to Physical Education - Fencing by ex-Olympian/United States fencing team head coach Aladar Kogler, I experimented with a myriad of courses which both enriched me and stretched my limits. As an Economics major, I also wanted to learn the subject at the frontier of research. Again, I was not disappointed – the course pack used for one of my classes, International Monetary Theory & Policy, was actually the manuscript of the book that my professor is about to publish. Moreover, I learned to expect the unexpected. For instance, I sat for the strangest, yet most rewarding exam while I was at Columbia. It was a 24 hour take-home final for Corporate Finance offered through Columbia’s Business School. My task was to finish two full company valuations and evaluations of acquisition and stock exchange. Without a wink of sleep, I was engrossed in the modeling of my valuation model. I didn't even feel tired, sleepy, thirsty or hungry during the exam. It was only later, after I handed in my work, then I realized that my back was aching and my head was dizzy. Nonetheless, this exam was a watershed that made me realize that we can do more than we think we can.
Looking back, I am glad to say that I have lived my Columbia college life to the fullest. I am also grateful towards SILS for inspiring me to pursue the study abroad program and subsequently providing me with the actual opportunity. As a SP2 student, I do not need to participate in the study abroad program. However, I interacted frequently with fellow classmates from an array of different cultures at SILS. Through this process, I knew that I wanted to embrace even more cultures, befriend people with ideas different from mine and discover myself through the process. The study abroad program seemed to be the answer and I was right. Columbia University has fulfilled both my academic interests and my cultural curiosity. More importantly, it supplied me with the cosmopolitan outlook and wonderful memories which will anchor me well, no matter where I go, in the future.
If you have decided to enter SILS and participate in the study abroad program, congratulations! With hundreds of partner institutions around the world, SILS will provide you with vast possibilities. Know what your goals are and start planning early. Be prepared for your SILS classes as well. If you do not understand concepts, it is your own initiative to locate the professors to help you with your queries. Remember that your academic performance, language ability, statement of purpose and study plan all determine your study abroad host school. As Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “It is not enough to take steps which may some day lead to a goal; each step must be itself a goal and a step likewise.” Likewise, it is important to know that everything you do at SILS today will have immense impact on your future study abroad destination and experience.
Good luck with your application!
Up Date:2010/03/15