Reflection – Page 2

Reflections on my First Semester…

Posted on December 21, 2021September 21, 2022 by Serena Lin

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 ...

Life Happens Outside of Pomona Too

Posted on December 15, 2021September 21, 2022 by Chris Meng

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...

Finding Joy in Simple Moments

Posted on November 23, 2021September 21, 2022 by Serena Lin

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...

My Final Semester at Pomona

Posted on November 9, 2021September 21, 2022 by Isabel Callahan

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 ...

There’s No Place Like Home

Posted on October 27, 2021September 21, 2022 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...

The Power of Sitting Alone in Frary

Posted on October 18, 2021September 21, 2022 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...

The Intangibles

Posted on October 12, 2021September 21, 2022 by Serena Lin

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...

Reconnecting With My Mother Tongue

Posted on September 21, 2021September 21, 2022 by Sonam Rikha

By Sonam Rikha’24 “You’re not Tibetan, you’re American.” If I could get a dollar for every time I’ve heard that phrase uttered to my face, I’d be a millionaire. It’s wild how it's often the people closest to you–relatives, community members, family–who constantly remind you that you don’t belong. I never felt as uncomfortable with my Tibetan-American identity as I did whe...

The Road to Pomona

Posted on September 13, 2021September 21, 2022 by Leslie Paz

Leslie's little dog with a Pomona hat next to her

By Leslie Paz ’24 Out of thousands of universities and colleges, the fact that I landed at Pomona is honestly a miracle. After forming relationships with faculty and bonding with friends, I genuinely believe it is my perfect fit. However, it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when I almost dismissed the school altogether. I shudder now to think where I might have ended...

Move-In Day, Take Two

Posted on September 6, 2021September 21, 2022 by Lucy Pan

By Lucy Pan '24 Move-in day for first-year college students is often seen as a significant moment in one’s transition to college. It’s the day when we leave our families and truly step into adulthood for the first time, and it usually occurs at the beginning of our first semester. I’d watched videos of students celebrating this step in their journey with their families and a...