Columbia College Today

Daniel Free ’08 enjoys reading in typical Columbian fashion — on the steps of Low Library, next to Alma Mater.

PHOTO: Gabrielle Breen

Although Daniel Free ’08 did not stray too far from his hometown of Stratford, Conn., when he chose to attend college in New York City, his 55-mile trip to Morningside Heights has propelled him much farther and in directions he had not initially anticipated.

Free, the oldest of four siblings, is the first member of his family to attend college — following in the footsteps of many who were family pioneers at the College.

“I always had the desire to go to an Ivy League university. I knew those schools would offer the best opportunities later in life, and I really wanted to break the mold that has surrounded my family. We do not have much money,” he says.

Free, who is half Native American, was accepted to the College as a Kluge Scholar, and after visiting Morningside Heights, decided Columbia was the best fit for him.

“New York City and the opportunities here made me very excited. I also thought the campus was absolutely amazing. I remember the feeling when I first stepped onto it and thought ...‘This is just right,’ ” recalls Free.

“If it wasn’t for the [Kluge] grant, I probably wouldn’t be here,” he adds.

According to Free, his mother — who undertook most of the responsibility of raising him and his siblings after she and his father divorced — has embraced the opportunities the College has afforded him.

“My mom was supportive of me going to [college in] another state. In fact, I have always been very independent. I worked 20–30 hours a week during high school and didn’t rely on the family for money. She realizes that this is the best situation for me,” he says.

Despite juggling several responsibilities as a teenager, Free compiled an impressive high school résumé that allowed him to achieve his dream of obtaining an Ivy League education. He was captain of the varsity outdoor track and field team, president of the debate team and founder of the Model United Nations Club at Bunnell H.S., where he graduated summa cum laude.

In September 2004, Free arrived at Columbia intending to double major in political science and economics. However, after taking several Spanish courses with Professor Marissa Garland, he opted to replace economics with a concentration in Spanish literature and language. He took courses with Garland for three semesters and credits her teaching style for his change of trajectory.

“I became a Spanish concentrator because of the way she taught the language and her passion for it,” Free says. “She always came into class with new and interesting ways to teach.

“The great thing about studying language is that once you have the skill, a whole new culture opens up to you in a way that it wouldn’t have before,” he adds.

Currently, Free is furthering his passion for languages by learning Japanese. “I love the Japanese department here. They teach you about the entire culture. That has helped open my mind. It’s one of the most difficult languages to learn, and it really challenges me,” he notes.

Free has taken advantage of his college years to immerse himself in other cultures and learn about foreign governments. In summer 2006, with the help of two scholarships from The Council on International Educational Exchange, he made his first trip abroad and spent a month studying in Seville, Spain. That year, he also spent the fall semester in Sydney, Australia, through a study abroad program. He took courses at the University of New South Wales and analyzed voting trends as an intern with the Democratic Party of the New South Wales Parliament. His findings were published in several Australian newspapers.

Although some of Free’s best experiences of his undergraduate years have taken place abroad, he has not relinquished his relationships and commitments back in Morningside Heights.

After his first year in the College, Free decided to help the next wave of incoming students in their transition to college life by serving as the Transfer, Visitor and International Students Programs coordinator for the New Student Orientation Program. He also serves as secretary of the 2008 Columbia College Student Council and is helping his classmates transition from students to active alumni as a member of the Senior Fund.

“Being a member of the Senior Fund gives me an opportunity to start current students on the path to becoming alumni who will give back to Columbia, whether it’s time or money,” says Free, who enjoys heading to the Bronx to watch his favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees, play at Yankee Stadium.

After graduation, Free plans to spend a year in the Land of the Rising Sun through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, which would allow him to teach English while simultaneously holding a job with the Japanese government. While in the Far East, he plans to apply to law schools and is also considering returning to Morningside Heights to pursue a degree at SIPA.

Nathalie Alonso ’08, from Sunnyside, Queens is an American Studies major, a freelance reporter and an avid New York Yankees fan.

AROUND THE QUADS

Student Spotlight: College Broadens Daniel Free ’08’s Horizons