Student Squared: Rubina Singh ’28

Q: To begin, would you mind telling me a little bit about where you consider home?

A: I’m from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. It’s three to four hours from here, depending on the traffic. It’s a suburban town. It's not too big, but it’s really nice. One hour from New York City, one hour from the Jersey Shore, I could go wherever — I love it. I think I'm gonna go back.

Q: Was it challenging to transition to Amherst, given that it’s more isolated? 

A: Honestly, yeah. [Public] transportation is a lot slower and a lot less frequent than where I’m from, but the vibes are still good; I feel like the neighborhood is just as beautiful, people are just as chill, and it’s nice seeing families in the area, otherwise you’re just in the Amherst College bubble. 

Q: Would you mind telling me about some of the different corners of campus you’re in? 

A: So I’m an econ[omics] major, and I’m only an econ major because I just don’t love anything [else enough] to declare it, but I love taking [law, jurisprudence, and social thought] (LJST) and poli[tical] sci[ence] classes. So I would say those are my academic corners. I [also] take a lot of econ[omics] classes and I love going to the department events. They have a lot of free food. I like a little sprinkle of math and stats every semester.

As for other campus activities, I kind of join different clubs depending on my mood. I’ve tried rock climbing, I’ve tried sailing, I’ve tried Glee Club, and none of these things I had any experience in, but I’ve gotten a taste of all of them. I haven’t gotten very good at them. But you know, some people are just dynamic people.

But I would say the one thing I have consistently tried to be involved in is public speaking at Amherst. I did the persuasive speaking competition [the past two years], and I always have such a blast because [Associate in Public Speaking] Susan Daniels is such a great coach — I think she changed my life. Also, hearing other people’s speeches is always so inspiring. Then, along with public speaking, I [also] helped organize the TEDx event last year. I was the marketing director. It was a blast setting it up.

Q: That’s so cool. What were your speeches about?

A: Last year’s [Amherst College Speaking Competition] theme was belonging. I talked about [the importance of] patience in finding a sense of belonging. Because [coming] into college as a freshman, you're really anxious about fitting into a group really quickly. I guess my speech was cautionary, against rushing into things and taking the time to find those real connections. And then this year, the theme of the competition was hope. So my speech was called “The World’s Greatest Pessimist,” which is the opposite of hope. But it was kind of like how I used to be a really negative Nancy, and how, at some point, being too pessimistic can be the end of you. That’s when you start hoping; you become a ‘hope-ist.’

Q: You talked a bit about the transition coming into Amherst as a first year, do you feel like things have changed a lot sophomore year? 

A: I think freshman year, I was, like many people, really intent on finding a group and sticking with it, but I think [as a] sophomore, my mindset has changed. It’s just as cool to be friends with all kinds of people in all different places, and you have different interests you share with different people, and you can kind of have your company whenever. 

Q: That’s great advice. Is there anything particularly cool that’s blown your mind in a class recently? 

A: I’m taking this class, “Economics and Psychology.” It’s an econ[omics] elective. I love when there’s a class that combines two subjects. Something we learned about recently is the endowment effect. We were reading about an experiment where half the people had mugs, and the other half were looking to buy mugs, and they had to write on their own pieces of paper: How much do you value this mug? And they always found that people with mugs valued them twice as much as those who didn’t have them but were looking to buy them. And so that shows something about human psychology: When you own something, the emotional attachment to it makes you value it more, and that really affects the way our markets work. Like, when people are selling their houses, they start at such high prices because they genuinely feel their house is worth that much, whereas the buyer thinks it's worth a lot less. It was cool to see it on a small scale and [how it works] on a larger scale.

Q: So fascinating. As a sophomore, is studying abroad on your mind? 

A: Yes. I am going to Oxford [University] for [next] year. I’m doing the New College Amherst direct enrollment program, and I am super excited for that. It’s gonna be a great year. It's gonna be a lot of economics. I don’t know if I get to explore other subjects. It’s definitely gonna be hardcore.

Q: Is the idea that you’re not going to be here any of next year changing how you're approaching Amherst in the final weeks of the semester?

A: Yeah, honestly, it’s made me a little more relaxed, I kind of just want to be here. I find myself just sitting outside, and staring at J[ohnson] Chap[el]. I really need to take it all in so that I can remember it while I'm there. I don't want to forget.

Q: Congratulations again. And if you had to describe your ideal day at Amherst, what would you include? 

A: I think I would get up around nine, a pretty optimal time. It would be a Tuesday or Thursday, so it would be omelet bar day. [Valentine Dining Hall] makes the biggest omelets, it’s amazing. Then I would go to the yogurt bar, and there would be chia pudding — it wouldn’t have run out by then. I would have that as my breakfast. Breakfast is my favorite meal. Then I would go to my classes, and get my assignments back. They’d be all A’s — such a great day. And then I would go sit in the Science Center outdoors area — it’s very beautiful there. Maybe go for a bike ride on the rail trail. Maybe I would bike to Trader Joe’s and try some new snacks. I love doing that in my free time, then I come back and hit the gym really hardcore. I would run three miles, lift every machine, and be so productive. And I would be jacked, yes. And then, and then I would be tired and go to bed. It would be a great, wonderful day.

Q: Well, I hope that day becomes a reality very soon. Beyond the words you’ve shared, do you have any other words of advice for other Amherst students?

A: Yeah, I would encourage people not to get peer pressured to double major, because a lot of people here have two majors, and so people could easily start feeling like you just have to have it, [but] you don’t necessarily have to; we have an open curriculum for a reason. Really, remember that and explore as much as you like. And if you do love two majors, go for it. But if not, that's okay. No employer is comparing you, a single major, to a double major and automatically thinking you’re worse off. That’s something I always like to tell people. I'm very proud of being a single major. 

I would [also] just add that everyone should read The Student, because they’ve been working really hard. I think they do a phenomenal job, like the April Fools’ edition. I actually believed it, no joke. I think it was quality; it was so believable. So yeah, kudos to you guys and read The Student.