Congratulations! You’re roughly halfway through the academic year and probably in the throes of challenging courses, research, projects, sports, club obligations and other school activities. Amid your busy schedule, take a moment to consider some advice from someone who’s been there.

Halfway through the academic year, Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne talks about what he’s been up to and what he’s looking forward to. (Image credit: L.A. Cicero)

The Roundabout caught up with Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne with a few questions. In addition to offering guidance to busy students and postdocs, he recounts his life as a student, tells us how he spent winter break and shares what he’s reading and watching in his downtime.

As president, what are your goals for 2019?

Taking the next steps on the long-range vision while also attending to the needs of our community, including student well-being.

What are you looking forward to at Stanford this year?

I really look forward to advancing all the university initiatives we’re working on. But more immediately, I also derive great joy from the little things – meeting students both individually, for example, at my office hours, and at events; hearing about aspirations and accomplishments of people in our community, and helping the members of our community meet their goals.

Any highlights from winter break?

My wife, Mary, and I have a tradition of spending time on the holidays with family and friends, which was very restorative. We also attended a New Year’s Eve wedding in Manhattan for a son of good friends of ours. It was a wonderful way to close out the past year and start the new one.

What was the last book you read, film, TV and Broadway show you saw?

Book: Factfulness
Film: On the Basis of Sex
TV show: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Broadway show: To Kill a Mockingbird

What were the latest performances, exhibits or community events you attended at Stanford?

Sports event: Men’s basketball
Dorm visit: Larkin
Faculty lunch: Economics faculty
Community dinner: Hillel, Shabbat dinner
Concert: Yefim Bronfman
Exhibit: Contact Warhol
Play: A Raisin in the Sun
Dance: Stanford Viennese Ball

What was the most challenging course you took as a student?

Neuroanatomy. I loved it and it was essential for my neuroscience studies, but I found the sheer amount of memorization to be challenging – my brain is better at problem-solving than at remembering long lists. In fact, I only really mastered it years later when I became a professor and had to teach it.

Any inspiring memories from your years as a student?

There are so many! But, in particular, I was deeply influenced by brilliant lectures by some of my professors and by select visiting lecturers. To this day, I remember vividly talks by biologist E.O. Wilson, political philosopher Charles Taylor and neuroscientist Eric Kandel, who inspired me to take on big problems. I learned that a great lecture can change the direction of a person’s life.

We’re roughly halfway through the school year. What advice can you offer students and postdocs?

The middle of the academic year is a great time to look up from your studies and to take advantage of what Stanford has to offer: Explore a new area of study, make time for your friends, meet new people outside your normal circles, pursue something that intrigues you! It’s never too late to try new things. In my junior year I became a photographer for the campus newspaper, and then a writer for the paper in my senior year.