Don’t let her dainty stature fool you: Lian Zucker, a bubbly Applied Mathematics major and proud member of Ezra Stiles ’13, packs as much heat as any illegal, potentially lethal 4th-of-July firecracker. This woman is dynamite.
When I caught up with Lian in Blue State, she was in the midst of the junior year interview slaughterhouse. You’ve probably seen the energy-sapped juniors shuffling across campus in business attire. You can imagine my surprise when, instead a soul-sucked grimace, Lian greeted me with a wide and confident grin.
Lian thrives at Yale. To see this, all you have to do is check out her list of extracurricular activities: she is an Applied Mathematics major (“I’ve always been very math-minded. It has always been my academic passion”), she is president of virtually every organization she is involved in, she is a member of Elmseed, and she works for the Yale Student Investment Group.
Yet, extracurriculars aren’t what define Yale for Lian. “With the danger of making this sound clichéd, I’d have to say that I appreciate Yale most for its diversity. That’s not in the socioeconomic or cultural way that most people think of diversity. Yale is wonderful because it is so diverse in terms of personalities.”
Even so, Lian’s substantial workload does not stop her from enjoying her nights out. I can testify first-hand to Lian’s pop-and-locking skills (perhaps she gets her moves from years of intense gymnastics training). Somehow, this feisty California girl manages to ace her problem sets, manage board meetings, and peer pressure her friends into partying all in the span of a single night. “That’s because I think it’s really important to take risks. Not in the physical endangerment way, like jumping off a bridge, but pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Especially in the social sense. I like to challenge myself to constantly meet new people, make friends, and build different kinds of relationships.”
It is important to note that Lian is the President of not just one, but two huge Jewish associations at Yale. When I asked Lian about AEPhi, she had nothing but wonderful things to say. “I absolutely love it. I did it on a total whim. I love the girls, who I would have never, ever met otherwise. We are a small, laid-back group, and we are really looking to expand.” As for her role as President of Chabad, Lian explains that “I started off as Finance Chair at Chabad. I felt strongly about being involved in the Jewish community at Yale because I grew up around such strong, proud Jewish culture.”
No wonder. Lian’s grandparents (on both sides) are Holocaust survivors. She still has a menorah that her grandparents salvaged from the concentration camps. “I’m not a hero,” Lian emphasizes, “but I want to speak about my grandparents’ stories and inform others as much as possible.”
Lian knew that, coming to college, she wanted to maintain her Jewish cultural foundation. “I found it at Chabad. It’s for non-Jews as well! Chabad is very inclusive, a home to everyone. For me, it is a Jewish home. It’s also the most delicious free food you can get on a Friday. Lots of wine, lots of L’Chaims, and you feel a great sense of community.”
When I asked Lian what the main draw of Chabbad is, she responded without hesitation: “Rabbi Shua and his wife Sara are amazing; they are the reason I come to Chabad week after week.”
It seems that Rabbi Shua, who I met at the Chabad house, feels just as thankful to have Lian. “We have been waiting a long time for someone like Lian. She has made such a difference for us. I’m glad to see that others see and appreciate all she does, too.”