Why a Liberal Arts Education Is Like a Thali

Posted on by Vidusshi Hingad
Vids and friends arm-in-arm, smiling
By Vidusshi Hingad '25 A liberal arts education is like a thali. I promise you this analogy makes sense—just stick with me! Just like the thali is a large plate in which a plethora of dishes are served, a liberal arts education is like tasting different flavors of areas of knowledge which eventually develop your taste buds to their maximum potential. [At Pomona] you are requ...
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Reflections on my First Semester…

Posted on by Serena Lin
art installation with bright pink light
By Serena Lin ‘25 It's hard to believe that I am almost one-eighth of my way through college! Taking some time to reflect, I share a few of the non-"school-related" lessons I’ve learned: 1) Don't psych yourself out! Imposter syndrome is real, but don't sell yourself short. Your experiences and perspective are worth sharing. Don't underestimate your strength. I made ...
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Life Happens Outside of Pomona Too

Posted on by Chris Meng
treats and coffee cups
By Chris Meng ’23 tw: death This fall 2021 semester, Pomona College students finally returned to campus. Besides the initial COVID-19 anxiety, the first couple of weeks were a largely joyous occasion, filled with excitement for in-person experiences and joy over seeing friends again. However, this semester was my most difficult semester yet, and it wasn’t because my class...
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Breaking Out of the Claremont Bubble

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
Hollywood sign framed by palm trees
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 From snazzy pop songs about the city to Disney channel movies set in the area, a glamorous image of Los Angeles has always been ingrained in my head. So when my friends asked me if I wanted to go to downtown L.A., I responded with childlike joy. Despite the warnings from peers to lower my expectations, I couldn’t erase the delicate images and stories of L....
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My First Year of College—Again

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
Sonam with 2 friends, all holding fro-yo
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 Stress, excitement, and nervousness filled the air as sweaty sophomores dragged their luggage to their new home. As I watched Orientation staff and student workers enthusiastically wave their pom-poms while I walked toward my dorm, reality seemed to hit me. I’m here. I’m finally here. After an exhausting first year of Zoom university, I was finally able to...
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Finding Joy in Simple Moments

Posted on by Serena Lin
raindrops on a leaf
By Serena Lin ‘25 "Raindrops on a Leaf" Nature’s unseen pearl For the unhurried to discover Busyness is a whirl. We often rush right past Simple beauty Overlooked. A lot of my poetry focuses on simple everyday moments: raindrops, sunlight, a cup of coffee, etc. Writing a poem is a SLOW process. So as my schedule got busier, I expected myself to fall away from its pra...
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Bagel Envy: Getting Creative in the Dining Halls

Posted on by Nelia Perry
Danny holding bowl
By Nelia Perry '24 Everyone arrives at Pomona with a different expectation for the food. Some people’s parents are avid cooks, so they are destined to miss home-cooked meals. Some people are avid cooks themselves and are sad to no longer be cooking (they luckily have the advantage of using Pomona’s residence halls kitchens). Other students are eager to try being vegan for th...
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My Final Semester at Pomona

Posted on by Isabel Callahan
Gates of Pomona College
By Isabel Callahan (Dec. ’21) Strange. In reflecting on what experiencing my final semester at Pomona College has been like, strange is the word that comes to mind. I hesitate in using the word strange, for I worry the word comes with a negative connotation, and while the strangeness of my semester has sometimes been bittersweet, so too has the strangeness been lovely. With ...
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There’s No Place Like Home

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
Sonam as small child with brother on sidewalk
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 Home. For almost all of my life, home had been West Rogers Park, Chicago. It was where I attended my very first day of school, where I met new relatives and a baby sister, where I learned to ride a bike. In the spring of my first year in college, I officially moved with my family out of the city neighborhood where I grew up to a suburb in the Chicagola...
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The Power of Sitting Alone in Frary

Posted on by Nelia Perry
grass in background with hand holding card with painting of flower pots
By Nelia Perry ‘24 After 18 months of online graduations, classes, birthdays, religious ceremonies, and study sessions, Pomona finally opened back up in August! As a rising sophomore who had yet to live on campus, I anxiously awaited move-in day, in-person classes, eating in Frank and Frary dining halls, meeting new people, cartwheeling through Marston Quad, getting in the p...
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