The Power of Questions: Gabby Harmoning

This is Nitya Thakkar and you’re listening to “The Power of Questions.” Today I’ll be asking Gabby Harmoning to answer the questionnaire from James Lipton, inspired by Marcel Pivot’s 10 questions.

Gabby is a senior. Ok, Gabby …

1. What is your favorite word?

“Um cheese”

“Cheese. Ok.”

2. What is your least favorite word?

“Penetrate.”

“Can you say that a little louder?”

“Penetrate.”

“Ok. Interesting.”

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

“When there’s an overall interest in doing something.”

“So, like when somebody’s motivated?”

“Yeah.”

“Why does that turn you on emotionally, spiritually, or creatively?”

“Because like why would you do something if there’s no interest in doing it you know? You’re not going to get excited about something that’s mediocre you know? So if there’s an overall, especially in a classroom when a teacher’s interested in what they’re teaching then everybody learns a lot better.”

“Makes sense.”

4. What is something that turns you off?

“Having a bad attitude before you even go into it, I mean I definitely do it sometimes, but having a bad attitude before is never. I don’t want to…”

“Ok.”

5. What is your favorite curse word?

“Asswipe.”

“Interesting, ok.”

6. What is a sound or noise that you love?

“When a candle is being burned out into wine. Like at the end of Shabbat you have this whole thing at the end they put out the candle into the wine, and that sound is so crisp.”

“Why do you like that?”

“It’s just like. I don’t know. It’s just so satisfying to listen to.”

“Kind of like *asmr*”

7. What sound or noise that you maybe hate?

“Loud children who aren’t listening.  And they’re just like screaming everywhere.”

“Do you have a lot of experience with children?”

“Yes. I do. Because I teach young children and I’m the oldest of five.”

“Five? You’re the oldest of five? How old is the youngest one?”

“Three years old, almost four.”

“Three almost four? That’s so cute, but a lot of work I’m guessing.”

“Yeah, its a lot of work. Not enjoyable to listen to at like six in the morning.”

“Yeah.”

8. What is a profession other than the one you want to pursue that you think is interesting?

“I think the other option that I would enjoy in life would be a teacher which doesn’t make sense because I hate noise.”

“Do you have any role models that teach in your life?”

“My mother.”

“Really what does she teach?”

“She teaches Spanish and Chinese, sometimes French and German.”

“Do you think you’d want to teach language, or what kind of course, would you want to teach?”

“Yeah absolutely language or some sort of humanities because I’m not really interested in STEM.”

“Ok interesting.”

9. What profession would you not like to do?

“Anything in STEM, like a scientist. It’s not my cup of tea.”

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

“Welcome. What’s up my homie.”

Thank you for listening to “The Power of Questions.” Tune in next week to hear from another student.