Name: Shaina Lumish
Year: Senior
Hometown: San Carlos, CA
Majors: Journalism and Cinema Studies
HC: What are you involved with on campus?
SL: I am the Vice President of Standards for Kappa Kappa Gamma, Executive Vice President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, I’m a producer for DuckTV, and I am in Best Buddies.
HC: What is the best part of being a Kappa?
SL: I would say the best part of being Kappa is that there is no drama. I’ve lived with fifty girls for a year and a half now, and as much as I want to live on my own and have my own place now that I’m a senior, I am never in the middle of drama, like ever. I’m VP Standards, and that’s my job, to deal with the drama. I can tell you, there really isn’t any.
HC: So, what is it like being the Vice President of Standards?
SL: It’s really hard. It’s a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it. I am basically an open door; if anybody ever needs me, I’m always there. I’m the one driving you to where you need to go, or if you’re in an unsafe situation, I’m the one to get you. I work really closely with the President on a lot of things, I work closely with Panhellenic and I’m just constantly doing something that involves Kappa. I feel like even if I’m on my way to like do something for DuckTV or for classes, I’m emailing a Kappa or emailing nationals, it’s just a constant. The President and I are who you call if there is an issue. At first when I was asked to be this position, I didn’t think I could do it, but I’m really glad I did it.
HC: What made you interested in DuckTV?
SL: I’m a journalism and cinema studies double major and for a while I wanted to go to film school. I did a lot of acting and performing in high school and I always loved that aspect. I watch movies pretty much every day. I watch so many movies and TV shows and I really like to consume media all the time. I just thought it would be fun and my friend Abby approached me and asked me if I wanted to do it with her. I was like, “yeah, sure, why not?” I didn’t realize how many ranks I was elevated that quickly, which was pretty cool. It’s been really fun. It’s nice to watch and the viewing parties are so fun.
HC: What are your top 3 favorite movies?
SL: The Shining, American Beauty, and The Giant Mechanical Man.
HC: Who is your celebrity crush?
SL: I have a really big thing for Kevin Spacey circa 1990.
HC: What advice would you give to a freshman?
SL: Stop sitting in your dorm room and eating and watching Netflix because there’s so much stuff to do here, and it sucks that most people, including myself, find it all junior year. I wish I had joined a bunch of things; like, I wish I had joined a bunch more clubs and I had been actively participating in the school because there are so many hidden things that you just have no idea about until someone tells you. It doesn’t matter if you’re a freshman, it really doesn’t.
HC: What are your career aspirations?
SL: For a while I wanted to go to film school, but now I’m now trying to go to law school. I want to work for the FBI. I want to work for the Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, so I’m trying to figure out what I actually want. I do want a family, home life, and dogs and stuff, but FBI works like 50 hours a week. I’m trying to figure it out.
HC: What kind of music do you like?
SL: I like all kinds of music. I’m learning to play the violin, so that’s something I’m really interested in. I really love strings and I love that kind of music, especially for studying. But I’m also into every kind of music. I listen to crazy rap music when I’m working out and alternative when I’m walking to school or walking to classes. I just listen to everything.
HC: What made you decide to start learning violin?
SL: I have always wanted to, so I was like, “Screw it, I’m buying myself a violin.”
HC: If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
SL: Pizza.
HC: Tell us about your study abroad experience.
SL: I went to London, and I went to a bunch of other places too, but that was where I studied. It was crazy, I felt like I was constantly moving. We would get up at 8a.m. for classes and not go to bed until midnight, just because we wanted to explore as much of the city as we could before we left because it was a short program. I think I would have liked to do a longer program, just so I could sleep sometimes, because I felt like I didn’t sleep for five weeks. You just keep moving and you don’t stop. Every weekend is busy, and every weekend you’re trying to travel. If you’re traveling, you’re definitely not sleeping. I wish it would have been a little longer so that we all would’ve chilled a little bit.
HC: What’s your spirit animal?
SL: It’s a wombat. Have you seen them? They’re super fat, and all they do is cuddle. They’re so cute. I want a French bulldog really bad, but a wombat is my spirit animal.