This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Duke chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
Name: Simone Serat
Hometown: Hanover, NH
Year: Junior
Majors: Public Policy, Global Health
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1. What do you love about Duke?
I always knew Duke would be challenging, but I didn’t realize it would challenge me every single day. Duke has challenged me as a person, as a student, as a woman and as a community member. I don’t think I would have gotten these experiences anywhere else, and I can definitely say that I’m more sure of who I am and what I believe as a result.
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2. What is your craziest (appropriate) Duke moment?
My freshman year I organized my dorm’s haunted house for Halloween. It took months of planning and approximately a million volunteers. Anyway we did a lot of work with shadows and so we had to order a human mannequin – but since we were on a budget we had to order a life size blow up doll. One day I got an email from our Residential Coordinator about suspicious activity on our house account. So I had to explain to our RC why I had used Duke money to order a blow up doll. Jabari Parker came to the haunted house though, so I would say it was a success!
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3. If you could only choose one food to eat for the rest of your life, what would you pick?
Uh cheese? Do I have to pick a type?
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4. What was your first AIM screen name/e-mail address?
Simoneyiscoolest. I stand by it. Might make it my Instagram handle again. Follow me.Â
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5. What music are you embarrassed that you like listening to?
Anyone who knows me in the slightest could tell you that I know the lyrics to every single Taylor Swift song. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m embarrassed by my love for her, but I’m sure my friends are embarrassed to be seen around me when her songs come on!
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6. Cats or dogs?
Dogs always and forever – I have twoÂ
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7. Shooters or Devine’s?
There was actually a period of time where I was trying to get known as “Shooters in Sweats Girl” but it didn’t stick
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8. Do you have a nickname? If so, what is it?Â
Simmony Cricket, Sea Monster, Simoney Baloney, the list goes on…
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9. What are you looking most forward to about senior year?Â
Oh, geez. Honestly, the thought of senior year kind of terrifies me because Duke has flashed by. I guess I’m mostly looking forward to living with my two best friends, because we haven’t been together since freshman year. Sometimes I get so busy that it’s hard to see them! I’m excited that now I’ll get to see them every day.Â
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10. If you could give incoming freshman (Class of 2020) one piece of advice about Duke, what would it be?
Try everything once (within reason)! I never would have had this incredible experience if I didn’t put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone. Duke can be a scary place at first but the more you embrace it the quicker it becomes home.