Last Thursday, Amanda Benneh ’24, a returning sophomore from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, and Lilli Schmidt-Engelbertz ’23, a new junior from Hamburg, Germany, were complete strangers. After a lunch conversation featuring high-stacked plates, curly fries, and ketchup, the two girls left with a broadened perspective and perhaps a new friend.
First, we asked a classic icebreaker: Dead or alive, who is your ideal dinner date?
Amanda Benneh ’24: Okay, I would probably want it to be — I know this is very cliché — Michelle Obama.
Lilli Schmidt-Engelbertz ’23: Oh, yes, okay. Why?
AB: She, from a young age, has really influenced my life, and not really because she was the first lady of America, but because of the things she did within that title. They helped define how I want to be when I grow up. I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with her and be able to ask her for advice.
LSE: Yeah, I totally understand that. I think I would eat with Albert Einstein or someone like that. Especially because I’m really interested in the sciences, especially physics, and I feel like talking to someone who figured out so much about the concept, I just think that’d be really mind-opening.
AB: I would do that, too, but with the first doctor who performed heart surgery, for example. I want to know how they even thought of that and what was going through their mind — they’ve literally shaped so much about the medical system today. So, I think I’ll change my answer to that.
After breaking the ice, and discovering their mutual affinity for the sciences, the conversation continued with a more personal question: When was the last time you felt lucky to be yourself?
LSE: Wow, that’s such a good question.
AB: This morning, because I woke up, and I was able to walk.
LSE: It’s the little things.
AB: Yeah, and I remembered how annoyed I was when I couldn’t walk because I hurt my leg. Kind of puts things into perspective. Now, I can finally walk in the morning.
LSE: For me, it was talking to my brother last night about when I could come visit him. Now that we live so close to each other, it just felt nice to have the option.
AB: Where does he live?
LSE: New Haven, so not too far.
AB: Aw, it must be so nice to have him there.
LSE: Yeah, I’m lucky that he lives close to me now!
And with that, the two girls shook hands and headed their separate ways. Regardless of whether or not they cross paths again, they both left parts of themselves in this conversation. Once strangers, now well acquainted, they are just a glimpse into the world of strangers whom you may never imagine connecting with until they randomly sit down at your lunch table — so next time, try striking up a conversation with someone new.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.
