Student

I stood in front of the mirror analyzing whether or not my mom jeans and crop top gave off friendly, cool-yet-chill vibes. My roommates didn’t want to go to the fifth meet-up organized through the “Transfers in the City” GroupMe, so I plucked up the courage to ask my neighbor upstairs if she wanted to come with me. The week prior, I had flown to New York from Michigan in my hazmat suit that I bought from Amazon for $20. Now, I was in a hot, sticky apartment just off of Broadway and La Salle, eager to make new connections.

Director, writer, editor, photographer, first-generation college student, music lover, Instagrammer, daughter, storyteller. Just like her, the films Mariah Barrera, CC ’24, creates cannot be pigeonholed. They explore everything from the devastation of incarceration to the lighthearted simplicity of teenage joy.

I came to New York City when I was four. I spent the next seven years living in a flat in Gravesend. Perhaps the most aptly named neighborhood in the city, Gravesend is as weary and empty as its name suggests. I don’t remember much about those days besides that the winters were cold; sharing a room, my sister and I would sleep in winter coats because the heater was broken.

From securing necessary equipment to shooting films under new social distancing guidelines, it has been more difficult than ever for student filmmakers to begin projects. However, Barnard’s Instructional Media Technology Services—Columbia student filmmakers' one-stop shop for everything media technology related—is still operating remotely to help students stay creative.

Although approaching a professor can be intimidating at first, knowing the right thing to say can often help you get what you are looking for. There are many unwritten rules to writing an email, but maintaining a professional tone is one of the most essential. To get you started, Spectrum has outlined a few ways to approach your professors via email below.

Though college looks different this semester, managing a budget can still be challenging. From grocery shopping to transportation to school supplies, the costs of being a student quickly add up. Here are some online resources and budgeting tips that will help you avoid experiencing the dread of missing student deals.

In July, Nanette DiLauro, Barnard’s director of financial aid, wrote to students who received financial aid and had participated in the housing lottery in the spring semester. She informed them that they were eligible to receive a financial aid award of $7,846 to support off-campus room and board as a part of the campus reopening plans.

From examining metaphysical questions of human nature to surveying the universe and spilling her secrets, singer-songwriter Maude Latour, CC ’22, is on a mission to tell stories, reach transcendence, and start a consciousness revolution.

With his baritone saxophone still in New York, Riley Swain, CC ’21, started to learn guitar during quarantine. Playing guitar allowed him to experiment musically, and in a loud household of five, it was a quieter alternative to the alto saxophone he had at home. Still, stuck inside without any opportunities to get onstage, the part-time jazz musician found it difficult to feel creative.