Senior Ellie Friedman has been a Bearfacts columnist and will sadly be leaving us this year. However, there are only bigger and better things ahead of her and her future looks bright at Barnard. When questioned about her major, Ellie states, “I’m going to major in comparative literature at Barnard and probably Jewish texts at the Jewish Theological Center… Comp. Lit. Is the perfect blend of everything I am interested in…I also want to study Jewish texts to learn more about my religion from a scholarly standpoint.” Luckily Ellie has found her calling, but what does she have to say about students who may be confused about their future? She cleverly simplifies a complicated decision and answers, “My advice for students who are confused about their future…. First, you have to know yourself. Spend time alone and learn how to deal with boredom. Discover what you actually like and then just follow that.” It is important to pick a major you are interested in and really enjoy. That is how you set yourself up for success.
Now that we have learned about her incredible future, let’s focus on the past. Being a senior is exciting and nerve-wracking! Ellie claims “The hardest part about being a senior is the impatience. I’m so ready to be in college, in a new environment, but I have to sit through …a lecture about something I’m not interested in.” When asked about the highlight of her senior year, Ellie exclaims, “The biggest highlight of the year so far has been committing to Barnard…. Committing also means I can relax a bit and stop stressing.” It’s so good to know all Ellie’s hard work has paid off and now she can enjoy the last of her high school days. Ellie has taken countless classes over her four years at Vestal High School, so which of them is her favorite? Ellie explains, with no hesitation, that, “My favorite class was my AP Euro class freshman year, where we had a really relaxed teacher and got to learn in different ways every day. I also really love Señorita Vanness’s Spanish class because the learning is so dynamic and…fun.”
As her time at Bearfacts comes to a bittersweet end, it’s time for her to decide her favorite Bearfacts memory! After taking some time to think, Ellie says, “I love hanging out with my friends at meetings and helping Jacob and Steph watch movies for their column.” This just goes to show how carefree and fun Bearfacts is. It’s a comfortable and friendly environment where you can relax after a long day of school. Lastly, we’ve all heard of the dreadful illness that goes by the name of senioritis. What was Ellie’s scary experience surviving senioritis? As a victim and survivor, she says, “Senioritis is so real – it’s been four years of staying up late and missing things to complete assignments and prioritizing my schoolwork. Now I just want to spend time with my friends and family. I don’t care as much about the little things. It’s very nice.” And with that, the interview comes to an end. I couldn’t be more happy for our Bearfacts senior Ellie Friedman and I hope she knows that the club won’t be the same without her. After years of hard work and determination, it’s time for Ellie to enjoy the results of her blood, sweat, and tears. From all of Bearfacts, I would like to wish her the best of luck with her future.