Seniors Educate on Why to Give Back
Ellie Deresiewicz CC’16 and Aneesha Baliga CC’16
Over the past decade, the Columbia College Senior Fund has become one of the culminating experiences for the senior class. Co-Chairs Ellie Deresiewicz and Aneesha Baliga and the rest of the twenty-four Executive Committee members, are the voices of the Senior Fund and work to educate classmates on the importance of giving back. The Senior Fund supports the Columbia College Fund, a critical source of support for financial aid, the Core Curriculum, summer internship funding, and student life. It provides an opportunity for the Class of 2016 to make its mark on the College and help ensure that future Columbians will continue to have access to outstanding resources and experiences.
As you approach graduation and reflect on your time here at Columbia, what would you say were the defining moments of your college experience?
Aneesha: Some of my best memories of Columbia are related to everyday experiences, like strolling down College Walk in the dead of winter when the trees are lit, or congregating on the steps of Low Library when the sun finally comes out. It’s been at unexpected moments like these when I have stopped to appreciate Columbia, take in its beauty, and reflect on my time here.
Ellie: Living in Carman Hall my freshman year was transformative. My dad and sister both lived in Carman, and I remember being filled with excitement on move-in day as I walked in their footsteps and embarked on my own college experience. I lived on a floor with international students, which immediately introduced me to the special community we have at Columbia. From that point forward, community engagement was an important part of my college experience, from life in Carman, to participation in my sorority, to volunteering for the Senior Fund.
How did the Core Curriculum transform your approach to learning and your outlook on life?
Aneesha: I didn’t come to appreciate the Core until after I finished it and realized how important the collective experience is. I had great professors in my Core classes and in Contemporary Civilization especially. My CC professor was Turkuler Isiksel; she was an incredibly warm and intelligent professor. Because of her, and our class discussions, I gained an even greater appreciation for the texts we read. As a Financial Economics major, I don’t have many opportunities to do a lot of reading and writing. I am grateful that the Core gave me such a well-rounded education.
Ellie: I applied early decision to Columbia because of the Core and New York City. I wanted a liberal arts education, and I was thinking about studying English or history, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I was interested in. I ended up majoring in music because of Music Humanities, which I took with Professor Arman Schwartz, and a music theory class that I took with Professor Matthew Hough. I had moments in both of these classes in which I realized that music is my calling and it’s what I want to be studying for the rest of my life. I also loved Frontiers of Science. I am neither a science nor a math person, but I really looked forward to the large lecture and small discussion sections. It was an opportunity for me to delve deeper into the sciences in a humanities-friendly way.
What are your hopes for future generations of Columbia College students?
Aneesha: By getting involved with the Senior Fund, I realized that every student has a unique experience here. Everyone finds their niche. My experience was defined by rowing, and it wasn’t until later in my time here that I became aware of other opportunities like alumni outreach and fundraising for our class. I hope that future generations of students will have access to more resources earlier on that tell them about the multitude of opportunities with which to engage in the Columbia community.
Ellie: I want future generations to have access to really high level professors for Core classes, because it is extremely rewarding to be taught by someone who has dedicated their entire life to a field of study. By giving back to the Core through Senior Fund and other giving opportunities, this is something that we can achieve in higher numbers.
The Senior Fund is a culminating endeavor that allows your class to celebrate its amazing collective experience across four years. What inspired you to take part in this fundraising effort and what message would you like share with your class?
Aneesha: Athletics has a pretty active alumni community, and I’ve been able to meet a lot of inspiring people who have shown me the importance of staying connected. I think one of the most important things about the Senior Fund is that we are charged with prepping our class to be active alumni. We have been given tremendous opportunities, and now it’s our turn to give back and help other students. We have a really motivated and excited Senior Fund committee, and I’m looking forward to exceeding our goal of 750 donors and $20,000.
Ellie: I jumped on board because I was eager for the opportunity to address my fellow seniors about our ability to impact Columbia’s future. I want to remind people that even the smallest gifts add up to create change, and staying engaged ensures that our time at Columbia doesn’t end with graduation.
Do you have plans for after you graduate? What are your aspirations?
Aneesha: Thanks to an internship I found last summer through LionSHARE, I will be staying in New York City to work at Morgan Stanley in their prime brokerage group. I’m really excited to be staying near Columbia and living with one of my teammates. I am not sure what else is on the horizon for me – definitely graduate school, maybe even business school. I’ve gotten the first steps down, but there’s still a lot to be figured out.
Ellie: I definitely plan on staying in New York and pursuing a job in the music industry. Last summer, I interned at a music publishing and licensing company called Secret Road Music, which reaffirmed my passion for the field.
For more information: