I met up with Jessica Firshein ’05 at the campus center one afternoon to talk about thefacebook versus Friendster, teaching yoga at Wes, and her plans for after graduation. Jessica also enlightened me on career options for a religion major—both of them. She enjoys saying hello to people. So if she says hi to you, be sure to reply, because she’s also a black belt.

MB: Who is your biggest WesCeleb?

JF: I don’t know. I guess I know a lot of people. But I would say that I have a core group of friends, half of whom are abroad this semester. They are juniors.

MB: How did you get to know a lot of juniors?

JF: I lived with them my sophomore year. There were a lot of freshmen on my hall on the top floor of Hewitt, the nunnery or the brothel, depending on how you designate it. There were some cool freshmen on the hall and I started hanging out with them and I still do. The real answer to that is I like saying hello to people. I just like meeting people.

MB: Are people usually responsive a friendly “hello” on this campus?
It’s always an adventure. Just say “hello”—you never know where it will take you.

JF: So I also hear you teach yoga on campus. How’s that going?

[Jessica offered a shameless plug: Take yoga, it’s good for you.]

Last semester was my first time teaching. I started taking yoga at Wesleyan. I went on a [yoga] retreat program this summer: a couple of weeks of intensive 4 hours-a-day of yoga. It was kind of exciting to be able to explore something so intensely. I started [taking] yoga at Wesleyan—I did martial arts for twelve years—

MB: Did you ever receive a black belt in martial arts?

JF: Yes, I’m a third-degree black belt.

MB: What does that mean?

JF: Once you obtain a black belt, there are levels beyond that. There are usually ten degrees, and you can’t get the tenth degree because it’s the degree of perfection. It’s very philosophical.

MB: I will also admit that I cheated…

JF: Did you use The Facebook?

MB: Yes I did.

JF: I will proudly admit that I love The Facebook!

MB: Has it changed you life?

JF: No it hasn’t, but it sure makes things easier. Friendster was also good. It seems to have gone down in its trendiness factor, but everyone still checks it.

MB: Do you have plans for after graduation, for next year?

JF: I have a couple of things in the works. I’m not going to jinx myself by bringing them out to the public light. I will merely say that I am working on it. I am looking to possibly leave the country. There are a bunch of programs in different parts of Asia and I am also looking at jobs in New York City. Maybe the west coast. We’ll see.

MB: I still don’t have any plans for next year.

JF: What’s your major?

MB: English, or the study of imaginary people. What’s your major?

JF: Religion. I’m majoring in unemployment and grad school. That is what a religion degree gets you.

MB: Maybe we should have gone the science route?

JF: No, I had more fun this way. I went to a science high school where we did nine years of science in four years. I had enough. So I came here and majored in liberal arts. I came here to take classes like West African dance.

MB: How was dance?

JF: I love West African music. I drummed with Abraham for two years. I wanted dance to learn the other end. When you dance the rhythm and when you play the rhythm, it’s the same thing. It’s just a matter of which body part you are using.

MB: Did you take it with Grandma?

JF: Yeah, that woman can move more parts of her body than I will ever know exists.

MB: Any parting words?

JF: Come to my house for wine and hookah. My housemates and I like to hang out and have a good time.

MB: Any words of wisdom?

JF: Foss Hill needs a ski jump.