Ben Naftali
A large part of the liberal arts experience is the freedom to change. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life as a first-year student. I still don’t, but I’m getting there.
Pronouns
Degree and Class Year
Hometown
Major
Minor
Extracurriculars
What three words would you use to describe L&C?
What’s your favorite class? Why?
Mike Mirabile’s Fiction into Film class is a great time. A good mixture of interesting readings and movies, alongside a great teacher who clearly cares about the topic.
What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?
Location and size.
What do you like or find most interesting about your major?
English is great for me because I love writing and get lots of practice in it. I also just love talking about stories, and I get plenty of that in the English department.
What do you like or find most interesting about your minor?
I love entrepreneurship because it teaches life skills and makes me more confident about heading into the workforce.
Tell us about your support systems and social outlets on campus: people, activities, clubs, res halls, etc.
Living on such a small campus means that on my walk from any one place to another, there’s a good chance I’ll see someone I know. This creates a great, very social environment, even when you aren’t trying.
What advice do you have for incoming students?
Be open to new experiences. A large part of the liberal arts experience is the freedom to change. I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life as a first-year student. I still don’t, but I’m getting there.
What do you remember most about your New Student Orientation?
I remember the friends I made. Even though I’m not necessarily friends with all of them, I think that the act of getting out there and meeting new people is a very important part of the college experience.
Did you visit campus before deciding to come to L&C? How did your visit influence your decision to attend?
I was a part of the Fir Acres Writing Workshop before my senior year of high school. I got to live on campus for two weeks, go to classes, eat in the dining hall, and pretty much every other part of the college experience. It was a great opportunity to get a better understanding of both what college and the Lewis & Clark experience are like, and I was hooked.
How did you decide on your major?
I decided on my major because of Karen Gross’s Words class, based on magic in premodern literature. It was so interesting, and the readings were so fun. After that semester, I knew exactly what I wanted to do for the rest of my college career.
