Thibaud Risz (Second Row) - Interview Conducted by Nora Wagner & Celia Lehmann Duke
Monday, November 30, 2020: It is 3:35 in the afternoon. The sun is shining and the birds are chirping (we think- we were actually inside so, upon reflection, we have realized that we can’t really attest to that). The mood is light, as is the company, and the Human of CPS makes small talk as we anticipate the beginning of yet another student interview. I click record. “Welcome, Thibaud.” The interview has begun...
Nora: What is your favorite restaurant in the Bay Area?
Thibaud: It’s probably either Cactus or Cheeseboard, just because I grew up with those since I was, like, seven. It was my go-to place to eat and there are some good memories there.
Celia: Do you have any pet peeves, and if so, what are they?
Thibaud: Not really that I can think of. This might sound mean, but people who sing that think they are good and so they, like, keep singing in public, or not in public, but around me, and I can’t tell them to stop, because that would just be mean, so I just have to listen to them.
Nora: How closely do you identify with being French, and how does it play out in your daily life?
Thibaud: I mean, personally, I don’t feel like I actually really do have any serious attachment. I go there [to France] basically every year. I eat baguette obviously, but, I don’t know, I wouldn’t be offended if anyone said anything bad about French people. I don’t feel super patriotic to France or anything.
Celia: What is the weirdest way someone has ever pronounced your name?
Thibaud: Tee-ba-doo. I don’t even understand that one.
Nora: What is a skill that you want to master?
Thibaud: I basically already have this mastered. Basketball. I’m joking. I'm totally terrible at basketball, but I like it. It would be great if I could do better at that. Yeah.
Celia: Can you walk us through a typical Saturday?
Thibaud: Ok, I usually wake up at about seven or eight; I don’t sleep in that much. Then I eat breakfast. I’ll go outside. There is a park by my house, so I’ll go there and play basketball with my friends usually. And I’ll come back at like three or four and I’ll do all my work and eat dinner. It’s pretty similar every weekend.
Nora: When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up, and has that changed for you as you’ve gotten older?
Thibaud: It definitely has. Well, I went through a couple stages. At first I wanted to be a ninja, and I mean although that is definitely like something I could still easily be, I don’t think I’m pursuing it as much. Then I really wanted to be a politician when I was like eight. I’m not really sure why. And then I wanted to be a businessman. And now I have zero clue what I want to be.
Celia: Is there a quote that has left a lasting impression on you?
Thibaud: No, not really. Whenever I’m asked to present a quote, I’ll usually just give this Nelson Mandela one. I actually don’t remember it word for word, but it’s something like, ‘The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’