Alumni Spotlight: Liz Bacharach
Hometown: Tenafly, NJ but I am now a nomad who, legally, resides also in Boca Raton, FL and rents in Chicago, IL.
Major: English Literary Studies and Spanish
Graduation Year: 2015
1. So, how’s life after Bucknell?
Life after Bucknell is…not a drill (cue laughter).
But seriously, it’s not half as bad as you would imagine while you tentatively consider your future during an off moment in the library. It might not be as easy in terms of schedules, as fun when it comes to guaranteed parties three nights a week, and mindless as a not-so-awake walk to a Thursday morning class. It is, however, exactly what needs to happen at this point in your life. It is time for a new challenge and I promise, that challenge is not so scary once you’re looking at it in the eye.
2. What’s the biggest difference between journalism school and undergrad? What’s the biggest similarity?
Biggest difference? Oh I could list thousands. Let’s run with: the fact that everyone is studying the same thing and they’re very intense about it.
Biggest similarity? Great news, homework never ends! And alcohol still does wonders for stress.
3. What advice can you give to current seniors who are looking for jobs or applying to journalism or graduate school?
Breathe. And don’t take yourself too seriously. I’m not going to sit here and give advice on applying to jobs because I primarily focused on grad school applications but in retrospect, I think it’s really important for you to have perspective (as hard as that is). Don’t think about what the person next to you is doing in terms of networking, job selection and, seemingly, life choices. Think about how many opportunities there are out there in the world and be comfortable with being just at the starting line of that. Confidence in your choices doesn’t hurt either when writing an application or explaining yourself in a job interview.
All about Bucknell:
1. Favorite class ever taken: “Lit. of Flirtation” with Ghislaine McDayter (who is forever my inspiration for “cool”)
2. Class that’s changed the way you see the world: “Seminar in Lit. Theory” with Harold Schweizer
3. Class that’s prepared you for the real world: A tie between “South Africa: Community & Identity” taught by Tammy Hiller and Geoff Schnider during the summer 2013 Capetown Study Abroad program and “Post Obama Paradigms” with Anthony Stewart.
4. Favorite teacher: Anthony Stewart of the English Department. Everyone, I repeat everyone, must take a class with him.
5. The thing you miss the most: The underrated simplicity of being so close to your friends; that they are just a text message away for a meal, a study hour in the library, or…and now I am tearing up. Admittedly, I miss my friends the most, both those still in undergrad and post-grad.
Fun Facts:
1. Snapchat or Instagram? 100 p Instagram (@ekbacharach, PSA: still trying to become Insta-famous)
2. The Freez or Sweet Frog? Technically, I’m severely lactose intolerant to dairy so…
3. Favorite place to nap on campus: Couch room and thus, the demise to my freshman year academics.
4. If you were given a pumpkin, a bison, and a scary Halloween mask, what would you do and why?
In the spirit of the season, I have to go with a headless horseman-esc answer. I’d ride the bison (despite my inability to ride any sort of animal. It should be noted that at Ramapo Country Day Camp I thought the way to ride a horse was to get on it, start galloping, and then fall off because everyone else was falling off. Turns out that is just wrong and supremely dangerous), put the pumpkin on my head so I’m technically “headless,” and throw the mask away because again, traumatized as a child.
We miss you Liz!