Nicola Cohen

I encountered the subject of this interview while she was working at the front desk of Ruddock Hall (located on the first floor). While she at first seemed uncertain about whether she wanted to be interviewed, she agreed.

"Are you sure?" I asked. "You really don't have to." 

 “I don’t mind,” she told me and smiled.

 Taking that as a final reassurance, I began conducting the interview:

 “What is your name?” I asked her.

“Nicola Cohen,” she responded.

“What year are you?”

“I’m a junior.”

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from all over the place.” She didn't go into specifics, and I didn't immediately ask despite the urge that practically killed me to hold back. I figured that as the interview progressed the opportunity would come up.

“What is your major?”

“I’m an English major with a concentration in Writing Studies,” she proudly told me.

I was super-excited. This was the first time I had gotten to interview someone who wasn't in some form medical field. However, I managed to keep myself calm and continued asking some questions to make sure she was comfortable talking with me. “Do you have any hobbies or interests?”

“I enjoy working on a TV show,” she told me. With a laugh she also added, “I also like eating.” We both broke out in light laughter which lasted a few seconds before she went on to explain. “I have a lot of hobbies and interests. I just don’t quite know how to describe them all.”

“What TV show do you work for?” I asked her. Being a Communications major, I happened to also work on a TV show here on campus. Since I didn't recall seeing her face among the crew of the show I take part in. I was curious to find out what show she was a crew member of.

“I’m a member of the I.U.P-TV station,” she explained to me. “I work on Sketchophrenia. It’s really funny. It’s a sketch comedy show.”

I laughed. “Oh, I've heard about you guys.” Sketchophrenia is one of the longest running TV shows on the I.U.P-TV network, and one of the longest running comedy shows.

“Yeah,” she laughed.

“Since you like food, do you have a favorite?” I asked her.

“It’s funny you should ask, because I’m writing a paper about pûtin.  It’s a French-Canadian cuisine. Since I used to live there, I would eat it a lot. I would definitely say that it’s one of my favorites.”

“What is pûtin?” While I had taken French in high school I didn't quite know what the dish she was talking about consisted of.

“It’s made of french fries, gravy and cod-cheese,” Nicola explained to me.

While we were on the topic of Canada, I decided to see if I could learn more about her past. “So you lived in Canada?”

“I used to live there. I lived in Ontario. My family was from there.”

“What was it like living in Canada?”

“It’s kind of different to America, but at the same time there’s not much of a big cultural difference.”

She had mentioned previously she was from many places. I wanted to see if I could hit a more specific mark. I pictured my question was a dart and that the answer to my question was the bulls-eye on the board. “So where are you from exactly?”

“I’m from all over. There’s no specific location.”

If my question had been an actual dart, and her answer was a possible outcome on a board, I’m not sure where on the board that dart would have landed. I feel like it might have been outermost ring- but I suppose that’s up for debate. An argument could also be made that I got a bulls-eye, since she was from so many places- it didn't really matter if I had an exact location pegged. That aside though, I figured I should try another question. “What are all the places that you lived?”

Little did I realize just how long the list would be until after she had finished. “I've lived in New York, Pennsylvania of course, New Jersey, Georgia, Jamaica, and Canada.”

My mouth dropped. “My god! You've lived in more places than I've ever visited,” I said to her. (This by the way is truth and not an exaggeration.)

I decided to move on to a different question. “Why did you decide to come to I.U.P.?” I asked.

“Mainly cost,” she told me. “I actually wanted to go to college in Canada. I didn't apply for my citizenship though, so I wasn't able. Looking back on it now, it was foolish of me- and I should have done that- but I guess it’s for the best.”

“Is it cheaper to go to school in Canada?” I asked her.

“It’s definitely a lot cheaper. In Canada they actually work with you. Here in America they pile loans on you and then you’re basically stuck here. In other countries they work with you and they want you to succeed. In America they basically force you to go to school and make you pay back the money you borrow and then you’re stuck trying to find a job that’s really hard to get into.”

“So speaking of jobs,” I said, “You currently work as an Office Manager. How did you first get involved as an office worker?”

“Well in my freshman year the person who was hiring- the A.R.D. at the time- sent out an e-mail saying that they were looking to fill one more position in the office this semester and then two more in the next. I was one of the first people to apply and I got a call for the interview. I didn't get it in my first semester- but the next one they called me back and told me I had a job. I've had this job since my freshman year.”

“Do you like your hours?”

“I actually schedule the workers here. It all depends on availability and class time. I try working with people but sometimes people have really weird shifts. Some people also have priorities too, but I try to be fair. I’m technically the one in charge here but I also do answer to a boss. I report to the A.R.D when there’s problems in the office however I don’t have a say in hiring or firing.”

“Do you have any fond memories involving your work here?” I asked.

“The Student Leadership Banquet,” she said. “In Housing we have R.H.C committees. At the end of the year every committee forms a C.O.Y- Community of the Year. It’s very overwhelming because everyone involved- C.A.’s and A.R.Ds- get nominated to win awards for C.O.Y. It’s so nerve-wracking. I haven’t won yet in the two years since I've been involved but I've gotten certificates for things we've done and whatnot. Plus the food is really good!”

While she may not have won, I was still pretty impressed. I decided to move away from her work experience and find out more about her story. “You said that you’re an English major with a concentration in Writing Studies. Why did you choose that?”

“Well I changed my major five times,” she informed me. I raised my eyebrows in surprise as she explained. “My original intent was English Film Studies since I've had a passion for television since I was in fifth grade. However I got a taste of it when I was in college and I realized that I didn't like it. I realized I’m more of an observer- and I like watching films. I realized I liked films and I didn't really like television as a career. I changed it to Undecided Communications, and then I changed it to Political Science. That was a bad idea because that was when Obama and Romney were running against each other. I was pushed into doing campus activities like getting people to register to vote. I then changed my major to English. I asked myself what my weakness was and I realized I wasn't good at communicating and writing- so I chose English. I figured that I should improve myself in that area. I’m good at public speaking now, and my writing skills are better. If I had a choice I would switch it again- but I've come so far and I’m working in a field that I want to go into.”

“What do you plan on doing with your degree once you get it?” I asked.

“I want to go into marketing for like music and film festivals. I see myself managing and organizing. I’m still passionate about film- but I want to have a steady job and hopefully be able to travel.”

“You've been to many places, is there any place you haven’t been that you’d like to go?”

“I’m planning on going to China this summer!” she told me excitedly. “I've been to Europe but I would love to go back. I really like the Mediterranean. I want to live in Portugal or Ireland for a couple of years.”

“Do you speak Chinese?” I asked her, going off on that fact.

“Yeah, it’s my minor! I’m okay in it, but I’m not a pro. That’s why I’m going to China itself.”

I nodded, and then decided to change the subject. I was curious about her past with other majors. I randomly chose the Political Science major to ask about. “When you were involved in Political Science and you were taking part in those activities- did you ever witness any debates between people in public?”

“Not necessarily. I mean I've seen and participated in a few for some of my classes but that was about as far as it went. However, I can recall that during the 2012 election there was a lot of tension. You could feel it in the air and you could tell who was a Republican and who was a Democrat. It was just a bunch of people yelling at each other and not solving anything. I only became that major because I wanted to travel and I thought it would be great. That’s the one thing I discovered about myself- it’s that I want to travel. But I haven’t seen any really.”

“This is a college campus and I.U.P. has a variety of political affiliations, anything from extremely liberal to extremely conservative,” I observed.

“Oh my god, yes!” Nicola agreed. Suddenly her eyes lit up. “Oh my god, I just remembered something!" she exclaimed. "One time during the election season Romney’s son came to our school. I’m a Democrat, and we were demonstrating in front of the Republicans. We had two girls kiss one another in front of them. Then the Punks come out yelling, “You’re a bunch of fascists!” Then there were many of the Townies- who are straight-up Republicans- shouting things like: “Blacks and Whites shouldn't mix! Interracial babies are sins!”

“This was happening in a college-town?” I asked in surprise, my eyes widening.

“Yes! It was at the KCAC! There were a lot of people but not a lot of college students since many of them don’t like to surround themselves with that kind of atmosphere. It was tense. Both sides were screaming ‘F--- you!’ They were slinging insults at one another. I feel that some of the old Townies here can be mean- especially when screaming things like how interracial people are sins and that they shouldn't be here. I have two sisters who are mixed- so yeah that was…memorable…to say the least. All that during my freshman year. I’ll never forget that!”

“I think I would've been completely traumatized if I witnessed that,” I admitted.

“I’m used to people and I’m used to them saying awful things like that. Nothing really shocks me anymore. I've dealt with racists, having lived in the South.”

“Since we’re on the topic of race,” I asked her, “what are your thoughts on what’s happening in Ferguson and other places across the United States?”

“History repeats itself. It’s nothing we haven’t already come across yet. I’m glad race is being discussed because I feel if we don’t talk about it then no action will be taken. However, I do feel like sometimes people on either side can be too extreme and then there are people on both sides who are civil. I believe in doing things like Martin Luther King- being verbal and using peaceful action. I don’t feel like it will ever be perfect- but it’s good to put your voice out there. I’m proud of my race and my culture- but I do feel even we have our extremists.

“However,” she continued, “I also feel that minorities are targeted more than those who are white. I had a situation where a couple weeks ago I got pulled over- understandable since I had snow on top of my car- but I wasn't going fast. I wasn't nervous, and I cooperated with the officer. I got a citation because my registration went over twenty-six days. However- one of my white friends later told me that they were parked in a place where they shouldn't be; and he and his car smelled like marijuana. They didn't go after him with drug possession charges, they just gave him a small fine for being parked in the wrong place. His fine was smaller than mine, and I was being pulled over because of my registration and my car- yet mine smelled like Febreeze! I just feel that the officer probably would have let me off easier if I was white. It was the first time I had ever been pulled over and it was just for a citation. I don’t understand why my friend- who smelled like weed- can be let go with a small fee and here I get a large fine. It’s like…whatever! Having traveled, I've dealt with people and their prejudices. I think people will be prejudiced no matter what. I think it’s good to raise your voice though.”

“In your travels,” I asked her, “has there been any places where you felt the people were less prejudiced towards you?”

“Canada all the way! I mean- every country has prejudice in some type of way. When I lived in Canada though- there you can be lower or middle or first class; you can be Black, White, Brown, Asian, but it’s okay. We’re all here struggling and there the majority of the population doesn't care. It’s friendlier there. It’s one of the many reasons why I love going there.”

“Do you go there often?” I asked her.

“Yes, my father’s side mainly lives over there. I actually went there over Christmas Break. My Mom and Dad’s families are both from Jamaica. His family moved to Canada and her family moved to America. I’m glad that they did because I've gotten to travel a lot. I get to learn a lot about cultures because of it.”

Before I could ask any more questions her phone started to ring. Her Chinese was being delivered. I didn't want to bother her while she was eating, so I decided to bring the interview to an end. Of course I thanked her for allowing me to interview her. “I hope you have enough,” she told me.

“Oh yeah,” I reassured her, “I got plenty of good stuff here.”

That of course wasn't an exaggeration. Nicola not only is an interesting face of I.U.P., but she has a strong passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. As I’m writing this post I can’t help but feel excited for her as she is even now making her plans to go to China, and who knows where else life may decide to pull her. Her story is as impressive as her travel record.

Unfortunately it’s time to draw this post to a close. As always, feedback is much appreciated. Be sure to check back for the next story. Hope you all are having a great week back and- in case I don’t update by the weekend- have a safe IUPatties!