Parker - Lilly Friend Project

Preliminary Questions

Do you live within a thirty-minute radius/are you comfortable commuting to Murray Hill or elsewhere in Manhattan to hang out with me?

[REDACTED]

Are you crazy?

Yes No

Once I review your application, I will reach out to have a more formal, sit-down interview to be my friend in Manhattan. This interview will be videotaped and I will be posting the footage on social media. Are you able to report to Manhattan and spend at least an hour for the interview?

Yes No

Open Questions

Why are you filling out this questionnaire?

I want to make new friends!

How many "close friends" (by close friends I mean people that you see more than twice a month if they live in the tri-state area or if they are a long-distance friend that you speak with at least twice a month) do you have?

5-10

Do you listen to Billie Eilish? If so, why?

Yes, but like kinda. I was a fan more of her first album don’t smile at me and happier than ever was pretty good. I am impressed by her voice and the production quality of her songs.

It's Saturday morning! What time are you up and what do you want to do with the day?

I’m probably up around 10ish or so and would go to the gym for a class or just a personal workout. My plan for the rest of the day is a picnic in a park and bagels or brunch. Maybe a movie at the theater or going dancing later.

Have you ever had an existential crisis? How did it come about and what was your ultimate takeaway from it?

Yes, I think I’m still in one. Just about what I’m doing in my life. It came about after college graduation and applying for jobs. I think my ultimate takeaway was that I just gotta do what makes me happy. I can explain more in the interview.

You are at a party and a topic comes up that you could go on and on and on about that nobody else knows anything about. What is the topic and would you talk about it or not talk about it?

Probably something about movies or music. I have seen all of Jake Gyllenhaal’s movies (except the two most recent ones) so I might talk about that but also I respect Taylor Swift fans (like myself) who are angry with him so I might choose to be tight lipped.

What do you think about feminism? How did you come to that conclusion?

I’m definitely a feminist. I went to a historically women’s college and came to this conclusion because I constantly felt like men were always centered or given space in conversations. I do think it’s important that we look at feminism in an intersectional lens and girlboss feminism is merely choice based. In order for all of us to be equal, we need to look at micro and macro factors in society that are effecting the most marginalized people.

If there was an alternate reality in which you had a debilitating, life-altering addiction, what would you be addicted to?

Working on creative projects and searching for the next hyper focus.

What are your dreams?

My literal dreams are weird. Like I told Taylor Swift I had a big gay crush on her and she was like “I know.” But my actual dream is to write a screenplay, direct a movie (or write for snl), and attend the met gala.

Do you believe in ethical consumerism or is it a drop in a giant well that has already been dug by multinational corporations so it doesn't matter?

There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.

Multiple-Choice Questions

What qualities are most important to you in a friend

Loyalty Honesty Humor Inspiration A and B C and D

What is the worst thing on this list

Processed sugar Stubbing your toe Throwing up Your mom(or another parental type figure) telling an old embarrassing story in front of new people Realizing you were scammed out of $30

Work is:

A means to an ends A way I bring my passions to life Something I do to better society A total bummer A myth that allows rich people to steal from poor people

Which poet's writing do you most connect with?

Sylvia Plath Rumi Rupi Kaur Rainer Maria Rilke Pablo Neruda

Do you feel like you've lived one life or lots of lives?

Lots of lives Once life I don't think about it like that I don't feel like I am living I am too busy living to think about it

How do you feel about answering all these questions:

Annoyed Intrigued Resentful Inspiration Excited to meet in person Neutral

Aristotle once said; "my friends, there are no friends." How do you feel about that:

Agree Disagree Neutral That's so cold and unfeeling! Form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Emptiness is not other than form. Form is not other than emptiness

Essay Question

Please describe a friend breakup you have gone through. If you haven't gone through a friend breakup, please explain why you think you have never gone through a friend breakup. Outline a major friendship in your life and explain why it is successful.

When I was in high school, my best friend’s name was [REDACTED]. We were really close, as we both lived close to each other in Brooklyn and we had created a foundation for our friendship in Middle School. We were practically inseparable. We both loved alternative music and making duck tape wallets and the arts. In High School, we were still close and she showed me that friendship is one of the most important parts of your life and will allow you to grow in ways you didn’t realize. Looking back, I do, however, think part of my attachment to her was the idea she could be my person, as I was queer and still coming to terms with my sexuality. The first real friend breakup we had was junior year of high school. Basically I had asked if we could go sledding during a snow day and she never responded. When I confronted her, she basically told me it was because she didn’t feel close to me anymore. Ouch. I was really hurt. She was my best friend, what was I going to do now? I went to a very small school so I had to see her and we had mutual friends. That was the first time, as we became closer again when we went to a music festival that our parents had already gotten tix for. Senior year was very much off and on (mostly on) and I noticed she changed. She became more interested in partying and drinking and drugs and I was not used to it. I think she scared me a little actually. I was really troubled by it but instead of letting in simmer out naturally I chose to break up with her permanently at a graduation party we had (I literally got up from making out with this guy to do it. Like so dramatic omg). There are times now where so think I miss her and oddly enough I think I still have her number memorized. But that friendship ran it’s course I think. Today I am happy to say I learned and grew and my friendships all feel authentic and spread out, not possessive. One of my best friends is [REDACTED] and I find that we can talk about everything and anything. Sure we are different but what makes it work is our willingness to be silly and crazy and our desire to always making time for each other.