Celina Lee of Palo Alto, California, said her most memorable moment with the community and academic associates was spent in the hospital. Eight days into the program, CAA Juliet Allan rushed Lee to the emergency room at 10 p.m. after her entire pinky nail ripped off in a fall.
“She was gracious enough to stay up until 5 a.m. at the ER with me because I hurt my finger,” Lee said. “I really appreciate her for that because it’s not part of her job description.”
Now the two, who remain close, are “trauma bonded,” Lee said.
Cherubs don’t need a hospital visit to connect with their CAAs. Since day one, they have been forming friendships with Gabi Egozi, Juliet Allan, Ilse von Heimburg and Audrey Pachuta — Medill students who live in the dorm during the program.
“I remember on the first day I was nervous. I didn’t really know anyone, and I heard Gabi start talking about the NBA and Jimmy Butler, and I knew that we’d be friends really quickly,” said Charlie Perlman of Mamaroneck, New York.
Sure enough, Perlman and Egozi bonded over sports and life on the fourth floor. Perlman and other cherubs loved hanging out with Egozi in the lounge after check-in. “We play cards, play poker, gossip and talk,” Lee said.
Meanwhile, down on the second floor, Allan wandered between the different lounges to get to know everyone.
“It’s really fun because there will be three lounges, and they’re all full of vastly different people doing vastly different things,” Allan said. “Whenever I have a chance to sit down or even just stand around and talk to the cherubs, it’s always a really good time.”
Despite getting especially close to the CAAs on their floors, many cherubs also branched out. Nina Bowens of Westport, Connecticut, bonded with Egozi despite living two floors down. Bowens and her friends created a group chat with Egozi titled “Post-check-in links” to coordinate their after-hour hangouts. During their time together, Bowens said they’d “gossip and talk about her life” and sometimes spread the word about what’s happening on the floors above.
“When we get to talk, it’s always the best part of my night,” Bowens said. “I consider Gabi Egozi to be my soul sister, my idol and my future self.”
Like Bowens, many cherubs want to keep in touch with their CAA mentors.
“Gabi is coming to visit the city in late August, and I’m hoping I can see her,” Sophie Gardiner said, “I’ve learned a lot from Gabi, and I’m hoping that she can continue to be a mentor and friend to me, even as my cherub days come to a close.”
