Name: Taylor Coles

Track: “A Bumper Sticker Ethos”

Education: Government and Philosophy, Georgetown University ’15

Hometown: Spokane, Washington

Who’s the current occupant of your dream job? Thomas Nagel, professor of philosophy and law at New York University. Although I have found little on which to agree with him, I would forgive it all if he gave me his job.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Worthwhile.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? I have found that I communicate in ways that make other people think I have a higher opinion of myself than I do. I argue for the sake of the argument, not for the sake of being right.

What ethical question confounds you? The ethical status of animals.

Why were you dumber at 18? It wasn’t until I got to Georgetown that I was in constant contact with people willing and able to prove me wrong.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I hope to find that I left everything on the court and kept my health. Absent that, being able to afford NBA league pass in my leisure years would be much appreciated.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? Mark Lance, my thesis advisor, has been an amazing person with which to work and he is an excellent model for the engaged and academically impactful professor.

Name: Nate Tisa

Track: “Big Enough for Billboards”

Education:  Culture and Politics. Georgetown University ’14

Hometown: Rochester, New York

What advice would you give a potential student government candidate? If you can’t name two issues off the top of your head that really get you going, don’t run. After the headlines and honors fade away, its just you and late nights with an overflowing inbox.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Courageous.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? That I feel I’ve earned special treatment. I really buy into a quote I first came across in high school: “The world owes you nothing. It was here first.”

What ethical question confounds you? When does service to others become service to one’s own reputation, and how can we prevent ourselves crossing that line?

What do you lie about most often? I watch sports for the commercials.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I want to look back on college and laugh at my anxieties about the future.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? Evan Hollander. The man pursues the things he cares about to the end of the world, whether its executing an idea or watching that one last horse race to the bitter end.

Name: Sam Schneider

Track: “Small Fish in a Big Pond”

Education: Georgetown University COL ’13; Sandy Spring Friends School ’09

Hometown: Sandy Spring, Maryland

What is success? Not failure.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Whatever the word is that encapsulates both beloved and ground-breaking, if there is such a word. And if there isn’t, there should be.

In a sentence, be your biggest critic: At times, I can be stubborn, verbose, unreliable, self-serious, self-righteous and self-indulgent.

What ethical question confounds you? Do the ends justify the means?

What’s one thing that would surprise someone about Afghanistan? Based on recent surveys, the Taliban has a nationwide approval that hovers around 10 percent.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? By developing a lasting fitness discipline.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? The Honj.

Name: Pat Curran

Track: “Sports Fanaticism”

Education: Georgetown University ’14

Hometown: Montpelier, Vermont

What is success? Surpassing whatever goals you set for yourself.

Who is the most ethical person you’ve ever met? My father.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Life-changing.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? Tough question. Probably my political leanings — I play devil’s advocate a lot just for fun, so my lefty friends probably think I’m a neocon and vice-versa. I’m generally center-left.

What ethical question confounds you? Ethics surrounding genetics in general. Where do you draw the line between improving quality of life and changing the nature of life itself?

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I like to think of myself as a pretty good writer. 20 years from now, I’d like my college work to be considered trash compared to the rest of my career.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? Lauren Weber. She’s an unbelievably loyal friend who stays down to earth no matter how impressive her latest feat is. Plus, she can throw a damn good cocktail party.

Name: Lauren Weber

Track: “Keystrokes to Success”

Education: English and Government, Georgetown University ’13

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri. Go Cards!

How was your 18-year-old self naive? How wasn’t my 18-year-old self naive?

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Loyal.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? Despite how loud I am, I’m a great listener. Or people just like telling me their secrets. One of the two.

What ethical question confounds you? Why do bad things happen to good people?

What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done? Letting go of losing in order to be close friends with the person I lost to.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I’d love for my future self to be able to honestly say there weren’t any shots she didn’t take.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? Can’t pick just one: Alex Honjiyo for chasing his dreams, Connor Gregoire for always being right, Pat Curran for his prose, TM Gibbons Neff for this Atlantic piece, and Evan Hollander for his spunk. And Danny, for pulling something like this off.

Name: Andrew Miller

Track: “Colorful Language” and the bonus track “I’ma Let You Finish, But …”

Education: Neuroscience, University of Kansas ’14

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri

Who’s the current occupant of your dream job? Bob Dylan: Poet, Activist, Rock Star, Radio Host, and he still lives a reasonably private life

Who is the smartest person you’ve ever met? My high school English teacher

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Engaging

What potential perception about you would be misguided? I’m a serious person. In truth, I find humor in nearly everything.

What ethical question confounds you? At what point does genetic engineering become unethical?

What do you lie about most often? When I’m going to get a haircut.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? When I graduated high school, my parents told me to live my live with love, purpose, and joy. I hope that my future self embodies all three of these.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? John DeGioia. During my short time at Georgetown, I was lucky enough to take a freshmen seminar with him. I don’t follow his campus policies anymore, but I will always remember him as one of the best teachers I’ve had. Also Nick Dirago, because to my memory I’ve never had a superficial conversation with him.

Name: Beth Anne Kadien

Track: “Duty to Rescue Friendships”

Education: Georgetown University ’14

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee

Who’s the current occupant of your dream job? Sheena Wagstaff, if I am being honest. She is the Chairman of the Curatorial Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Met. If not her, then the Director of Museum Education at the Met.
 
How was your 18-year-old self naive? When I was 18, like most 18-year-olds, I thought I was untouchable. That my feelings weren’t breakable. My senior quote was from Andy Rooney, “Life’s tough, I’m tougher.” I wasn’t wrong, but it sure has felt like I was.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Inspiring

What ethical question confounds you? Where is the line drawn for what is unforgivable?

In a sentence, be the biggest critic of your writing: Why is she writing like this is a conversation with herself…does she realize people are planning to read this?

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? At my high school there is an annual speaker who is named the Chair of Ideas, and they give a speech about whatever they want to the high school and middle school, followed by a more private talk with the senior class. Aldous Huxley was one, and a lot of truly talented alumni have done it. If I were asked one day to be Chair of Ideas, that would mean I was really great at something people cared about.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? It may seem that naming my best friend is a cop-out, but to me it’s the honest truth. Ryan Whelan has shown his true colors to me since we met on our freshman floor. He is honest, fiercely loyal, and he works impossibly hard for what he cares about. Every time I am with him I learn, and I value his wisdom more than I can eloquently write.

Name: Steven Piccione

Track: “Unfriending Social Media”

Education:  History and Italian, Georgetown University ’13

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Who is the most ethical person you’ve ever met? University of Chicago Professor Francoise Meltzer.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? “Astute.” Alas, I’ve never been called that.

What potential perception about you would be misguided? I’ve been mistakenly perceived as austere on multiple occasions. Usually based on a first-impression of me.

What ethical question confounds you? Is taking a bottle of Tabasco sauce from Chipotle stealing? If so, then I haven’t done that. Twice.

What do you lie about most often? My disdain for the Midwest. It’s actually a lovely region. And Chicago is incredible (with flaws).

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? Future Steven better have traveled west of the Mississippi River at least once, became friends with either J.K. Rowling or Benedict Cumberbatch (or both), and learned how to eat pasta without it ending up on his clothes.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? Hunter Main.

Name: Alexander Shigemi Honjiyo

Track: “Small Fish in a Big Pond”

Education: International Politics with Latin American Studies, Georgetown University ’13

Hometown: Woodinville, Washington

Who is the most ethical person you’ve ever met? My roommate from senior year. Despite being surrounded by gentiles, temptations, and easy exits he continues to not only believe in his challenging and controversial faith, but also be a model missionary for his Church in a deeply antagonistic world.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Solidario

In a sentence, be your biggest critic: I push the snooze button on my alarm three times too many every morning.

What belief of yours has evolved since you were 18? I didn’t used to think that same-sex marriage should be legalized.

What’s one thing that would surprise someone about Mexico? In Mexico, margaritas aren’t really that popular. Instead, a beer and lime juice drink called a michelada is the favorite mixed beverage. Another version called a michelada cubana can mix beer with hot sauce and tomato juice with clam flavor.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? If I am half the father and husband that my dad is with a career dedicated to empowering the global poor, I’d be pretty impressed.

Who is another Calling My Shot contributor whom you admire? I admire Lauren Weber for being one of the few 20-somethings I know who get paid to do what they love.

Name: Lucy-Téa Anderle

Track: “Death of the Love Letter”

Education: Wellesley College

Hometown: Carmel, California

How was your 18-year-old self naive? My 18 year old self  subconsciously believed my ability to pass as white would ensure a life free of racism.

What one-word description would you find most flattering? Intrepid.

What do you wish people weren’t judged for? Their transgressive, exciting sex lives.

What ethical question confounds you? Lately I’ve been plagued by ethical questions of what it means to study at institutions of higher education whose founding depended on the coercion, subjugation, and eventual destruction of Native American populations as well as Black slavery. I worry about the ethics of tailoring historical amnesia to modern morality.

In a sentence, be the biggest critic of your writing: My writing is frivolous, complacent, decadent drivel dedicated to stroking of my own overfed ego.

How would you hope to be impressed by your future self? I hope to be impressed with how well my “ivory tower” education has translated to salient work that changes people’s lives. I hope to radiate joy and multi-cultured poise and always smell of expensive French perfume.