Four Unexpected Joys of Going to a Liberal Arts College

flag of Taiwan on a table with sign advising not to speak English
By Serena Lin ’25 If you're a high school senior trying to decide which college to attend, you've probably heard the conventional Pomona sales pitch: small class sizes, “liberal arts experience,” being in the Claremont consortium, and good weather. But what does that actually mean? Here are four unexpected benefits of going to Pomona College. 1) Exploring One...
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Rediscovering the Joy of Music

hand holding heart object with words about creativity and joy
By Serena Lin ‘25 "You cannot count the beats. You must simply feel the music." As someone who is very numbers-based and methodical, this was quite a challenge. There was something stressful about not being able to protocol-ize a music note. As I stumbled through the first semester of my beginner's clarinet lessons, I originally expected just to "get through it" for th...
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Study Break Ideas for Finals Season

hand holding sketch journal with tree in background
By Serena Lin ‘25 With finals season in full swing, here are some of my favorite, easy ways to practice self-care during your next study break. Savor Stillness There are many quiet spots on campus where you can sit and just enjoy a few moments of silence and be present. One of my favorites is taking a tiny sketchbook and drawing in the Skyspace. You can also tr...
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A Letter to My First-Year Self

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By Serena Lin ‘25 Tip #4: It's ok to fail … cut yourself some slack. (To be continued…) Throughout my first year, I started the practice of writing weekly letters to myself to celebrate, commiserate, and collect meaningful moments. As I completed my first month of my sophomore year, I decided to write a letter to my first-year self. Hopefully, you'll find some of thi...
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Life at Pomona Is … (as seen through the lens of everyday objects)

collage of images
By Serena Lin '25 As my first year of college comes to a close, I’ve looked back on a folder of photos titled “joys.” Being mindful of memorable moments is a habit that I developed as a busy college student. So here are some vignettes about Pomona through the lens of everyday objects. Birdstrike binocular: why not? On a whim, I reached out to the biology department...
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Fighting Procrastination: Three Quick Tips

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By Serena Lin ‘25 Whether you’re a prospective student struggling with senioritis or a fellow college student juggling jobs, coursework, a social life, and everything else, we could all use more time. With the semester well along its way, the temptation to procrastinate grows by the day (there’s just so much fun stuff to do that’s far more enticing than that long philosophy ...
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Reflections on my First Semester…

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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Finding Joy in Simple Moments

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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The Intangibles

trees and grassy area with building in background
By Serena Lin ‘25 What makes Pomona, Pomona? I distinctly remember filling out a "college and career planning" worksheet during my first year of high school  and describing Pomona as having "quirky chill philosophical vibes." Having only been here for about a month now, I would say Pomona is many things. But I’m going to focus on three that stand out to me: Approachabi...
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