Adjusting to College – Page 2

Roller Skating After a Chemistry Midterm? My Experiences in Pomona Scholars of Science

Posted on July 8, 2022September 21, 2022 by Giuliano Richetta

students around long table in restaurant

By Giuliano Richetta ‘25 Taking a college class for the first time can seem daunting. I grew up hearing rumors about weed-out classes, huge lecture auditoriums, and professors who are not interested in getting to know you. A lot of times, the first response I got when I told people I wanted to major in STEM was “good luck!” Before being accepted to Pomona, I prepared myself ...

Reflections on Having a Roommate

Posted on June 24, 2022September 21, 2022 by Hasana Parker

An Ode to Blaisdell 119 By Hasana Parker ‘25 Before coming to college, having watched one too many college roommate horror story videos on YouTube, I was a little worried about having a roommate. I thought that, if I had one, I would be lying awake in my bed with one eye open, afraid that they would cut my hair in my sleep or pee in my shampoo. For me, the fear of potential...

Do You Love the Beach Like I Do?

Posted on June 21, 2022September 21, 2022 by Bilal Adamjee

Bilal and 2 friends at the beach with Santa Monica Pier in background

By Bilal Adamjee ‘24 I love the beach. When people ask me, ‘What brought you to Pomona College?’ the beach always comes up. The beach does remind me of home – that, and the warm weather and palm trees. It was honestly a big factor in deciding where I wanted to study when I first started my college applications in high school. I was born and raised in Kenya, where I’ve spe...

Get some sleep! Play a song! Get that ice cream!

Posted on June 14, 2022September 21, 2022 by Emily Kim

Emily with friend Steph in graduation robe, holding bouquet

By Emily Kim ‘25 Roughly two weeks ago, I finished my first year of college! This finals season was particularly tiring for me: on Monday I had a computer science exam (though I was glad to get it done early on in the week); on Tuesday I spent the entire day writing a final paper for my Jane Austen class; and Wednesday and Thursday were dedicated to finishing a project and s...

How To Ask for Help When You’re Drowning in a Scary College Class

Posted on June 8, 2022September 21, 2022 by Seohyeon Lee

illustration of ghost-like figure with question marks and anxiety around it

By Seohyeon Lee ‘25 I was clueless about everything when I started my first year at Pomona. As an international student from South Korea, I didn’t know what to expect from going to college in the United States. I was happy to get into a good liberal arts college, but I was terrified that I would face a steep learning curve with very little preparation. Looking back, I did...

Dealing with Stress

Posted on June 3, 2022September 21, 2022 by Porter Reyes

By Porter Reyes '25 As an eighth-grader, I went through the stressful New York City high school application process. Being thirteen, I had no idea how to manage my stress; I even broke out into hives. But now, after finishing the high school application process, the college application process, and my first semester of college, I have learned some valuable stress-management ...

Life at Pomona Is … (as seen through the lens of everyday objects)

Posted on May 20, 2022September 21, 2022 by Serena Lin

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...

Put Yourself Out There

Posted on May 14, 2022September 21, 2022 by Bilal Adamjee

By Bilal Adamjee ‘24 I believe there is beauty in putting yourself out there, in trying new things. To be vulnerable is to set yourself up for success. There is a unique power in this, and I increasingly feel that the community and opportunities at Pomona College are conducive for that. Yes, there are a number of people who know how they want to use their time going into ...

Mock Trial: The Power of Community

Posted on April 28, 2022September 21, 2022 by Vidusshi Hingad

mock trial team holding up one of their members

By Vids Hingad ‘25 Have you ever taken part in something that has changed you radically? I have when I joined Pomona College Mock Trial in October. Little did I know that the day I was accepted into the club, I was about to find a family on campus. Yes, it sounds cliché, but Mock Trial is about so much more than collaborating in a pre-professional setting. For those w...

How This Hen Found Her Home

Posted on March 28, 2022September 21, 2022 by Linda Phan

By Linda Phan ‘24 As a first-generation, low-income student, I didn’t find the college admissions process to be centered around finding the ultimate academic institution that would best fit my needs as a student and individual. Instead, I was focused on getting into any college, regardless of location, size, or campus culture. I applied to a total of 37 colleges, terrified o...