Why do you talk so much?
Well, that’s a complicated question. Maybe I could explain it, but I don’t even know where to start. It would probably take a while, because there are so many things about my life and who I am that you do not know. And I guess that’s the thing about “getting to know someone.”
You know them, but not just a random sporadic web of things about them, knowing someone often means knowing the things about people that they wish they could say. Things that they are interested in, and want to talk about. I’ll ask you this, if you had to outline a way to actively engage in the process of getting to know someone, how would you do it?
Well, you’d want to know what they want you to know. Oftentimes, things people wish they could talk about may not come up so naturally in conversation. I walked around campus asking random students to tell me a question they wish they were asked more often. Then, I asked that question to the next student I talked to, until I had circled campus hearing about students’ favorite books, moments of gratitude, opinions on the original Barbie movies and everything in between.
Adriahna
The Bates Student: What is your favorite texture?
Adriahna: Jello; I like it because it’s squishy… and it’s smooth
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“What is your favorite fish?”
Kayleigh
What is your favorite fish?
Like to eat or to have as a pet? I’ll give you both. I personally like beta fish as a pet; they live quite long and they come in different fun colors. But they only live long if you take care of them correctly. To eat … haddock. The fishy taste isn’t too strong, I’m not a fan of a strong fish taste. And it often comes baked and fried, so it’s a versatile fish.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Why do you want to be a doctor?” I feel like a lot of people ask you what you want to be but not why you want to be that.
Whitney
Why do you want to be a doctor?
I don’t want to be a doctor.
Do you want to elaborate?
No. I have nothing to say.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I would like people to ask me to get cereal with them at Commons at 8:15 p.m. on a Thursday.
William
Would you like to get cereal with me at Commons at 8:15pm tomorrow, which is a Thursday?
I should be able to do that. I think I have some night plans, but I’ll ensure that they don’t interfere with this.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Do you want to read together some time?” I feel like it’s a perfect bonding activity, I really value personal time together. If more people, that I know, asked me to go to the quad and sit on lawn chairs and read a book with them, I think my life would be better.
“Pierre”
Do you want to read together some time on the quad?
Sure.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I wish people would ask me how I got this handsome.
You know this is going in The Bates Student, right?
This is going in The Bates Student?! Write my name in as Pierre.
Eddie Cho
How did you get this handsome?
You know, I came out of the womb and said: I’m gonna be a good looking guy. Also, I have a skincare routine that I use sometimes. I like to go to the gym, and I run sometimes. That’s pretty much it.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“How did you get so handsome?” Yeah, that’s like the first time someone has asked me that. That’s a good question, thanks.
Lauren Cockrill
How did you get this handsome?
Really working on my physique, sitting in the sun more … eating my rice.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“What are your thoughts on space?”
Why is that? Do you have particular thoughts on space?
I know space is real but sometimes it doesn’t feel real, so I would just be interested to talk about that.
About whether or not space is real?
Well, I’m interested in people’s thought about the infinite-ness of space and how unattainable it is.
Lean Dockery
What are your thoughts on space?
Like in general? Like outer space? It’s pretty cool… I used to want to be an astrobiologist, so I was really into space things. But I don’t know much about it.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Do you want me to give you five dollars right now?”
Oh.
Daren
Do you want me to give you five dollars right now?
Yes, I’d love that. Is there any catch to that?
Nope.
(Daren in his grace and kindness did not accept the five dollars.)
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
About my interests, I guess. What I like to do, my hobbies. I feel like most of my conversations are based around my classes and stuff, like small talk.
Leah
What are your interests? What do you like to do? Hobbies?
I like to cook and bake. I used to really like running, and I enjoy speed walking.
I like thinking about organization but not executing on it. Making spreadsheets. Reading fast (skimming).
Deciding what colors go together.
I’m obsessed with shopping, obviously. The joy of purchasing.
Doing things for friends.
Feeling special.
Academic validation.
Laughing with sibling.
Listening to rap music (Drake, lil baby, da baby, anyone with a lil, 21 savage, Cardi B, etc.)
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I have three.
“What’s something you’re grateful for?”
About my family traditions.
And, “How are you so perfect?”
Paige
What are you grateful for?
I’m grateful for my kind and caring friends. We always check up on each other, but not work wise but like where’s your mental state at right now, how are you feeling.
What is a moment of gratitude specifically for today?
I’m grateful for [the Multifaith program] Pause. I’m grateful that they have Pause, and I loved the dance, and I’m grateful for the themes of the dances.
Are you grateful for any family traditions that you have?
I’m grateful that on holidays we always sit down and have a great big breakfast. We’re busy all day but we always have a very calming breakfast together.
How are you so perfect?
I’m not so perfect.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Would you like a hug?”
Why?
I like hugs, and we don’t get them enough. Well, I don’t get them enough when I’m here.
Zach Weinstein
Would you like a hug?
Not really. I don’t really like hugs when they’re prompted.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Why do you want to do what you want to do?” Like, why do I want to be a teacher?
Anonymous
Why do you want to do what you want to do?
Like my major, or in life?
Both.
For my major, it’s because I really find joy in reading and writing English.
What do you want to do in life? Do you know?
No, not really.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I would like people to ask how I am if I’m having a bad day, but that’s circumstantial.
Maddie
How are you doing?
Good… Just good.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I wish people would ask me more about Preminger, from one of the original Princess Barbie movies.
Gemma
Do you have any thoughts on Preminger, from the original Princess Barbie movies?
No. I never watched any of the original Barbie movies.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“What’s your favorite book?” I like talking about books, but that’s not something that people always bring up.
(Gemma’s favorite book is “Project Hail Mary,” a 2021 science fiction novel by American novelist Andy Weir.)
Aidan
What’s your favorite book?
A fallback answer is “Lord of the Flies.” It’s a really great book and I read it when I was young. I love that book. As a kid, it really opened my eyes to what you could write about. It’s metaphorical, and it’s the first time I heard about what a subtext was, like it’s a commentary on the id ego superego and I was like wow… books can talk about two things at once.
Second shoutout: “Frankenstein,” I think it’s great. Mary Shelly is killer, truly killer, it sparked a whole sub-genre. It’s super dialed in, I think the being is one of the coolest characters ever.
My answer-answer is a book called “The House of Leaves.” It’s about a man who finds his dead neighbor, and discovers thousands of pages of documentation of a movie which for all he can tell does not exist. The book is about him reading the book. It’s really cool, I really love it; it’s like 1200 pages.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I actually have a question I like to ask people, because it gives them the chance to talk about themselves and I like hearing about other people: “What is an interest of yours that you think goes against others’ perception of you?” Mine is that I’m a huge pro wrestling fan.
Dionne
What is an interest of yours that you think goes against others’ perception of you?
Being an avid baseball fan.
Why is that?
Because I’m an Asian American woman.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“What do you think of when you think of American culture?”
Emmon
What do you think of when you think of American culture?
Burgers. Beer. Fireworks. Kraft mac-and-cheese. Crime. But I don’t know how much crime there is everywhere else.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
Have you ever watched “Forged in Fire”? People don’t ask me that enough.
What is it about?
You forge.
Janey
Have you ever watched “Forged in Fire”?
I don’t think so. No, definitely not. Doesn’t ring a bell.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“Do you need a break?”
I’d like professors to ask that more often, and that doesn’t just have to mean within class. I wish professors just gave students a break outside of class more often, because sometimes I just need to not have homework to do. And just emotionally, from friends and family. I think I wish I was asked it more because when I have been asked that it’s been very cathartic and very helpful not only for me stopping and asking myself if I need a break but also someone else is perceiving that I need a break which means they’re paying attention to my well-being.
Sarah
Do you need a break?
Yeah. Life moves pretty fast, if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you’ll miss it.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
“What is something you’re grateful for?” It’s something I don’t think about enough.
Kate
What is something you’re grateful for?
One thing that I’m grateful for is the opportunities I’ve been given especially here at Bates to actually try everything. I tried knitting, that was awesome. I’m also grateful for my independence. And I’m grateful for how passionate I am for things, just in general. How I have passions for things.
What is a question you wish people would ask you more often?
I wish people would ask me more often what the smallest thing in my day was that made me smile. I saw a dog today and it made me so happy and then I smiled, but no one was around me so I couldn’t tell anyone.
You, the reader
What is something that made you smile today?
Conducting these interviews was lovely, and it reminds me of my affinity for knowing and understanding people. I encourage everyone to actively engage in the activity of friendship.
Bates Students’ Definitive List Of Questions To Ask More
What is your favorite texture?
What is your favorite fish?
Why do you want to be a doctor?
Would you like to get cereal with me at Commons at 8:15pm on Thursday?
Do you want to read together some time?
How did you get this handsome?
What are your thoughts on space?
Do you want me to give you like 5 dollars right now?
What are your interests? What do you like to do? Hobbies?
What are you grateful for?
Would you like a hug?
Why do you want to do what you want to do?
How are you doing?
Do you have any thoughts on Preminger, from the original Princess Barbie movies?
What is your favorite book?
What is an interest of yours that you think goes against others’ perception of you?
What do you think of when you think of American culture?
Have you ever watched “Forged in Fire”?
Do you need a break?
What is something you’re grateful for?
What is something that made you smile today?
