First-Year Reflections: What I Wish I Had Known Before Coming to Pomona

four students eating ice cream
By Ebenezer Mensah ‘23 It seems like only yesterday that I moved into Mudd Hall as a first-year student, but autumn and winter have passed by, concluding my first year at Pomona. Reflecting on my first year, these are the things I wish I had known before coming to Pomona. Professors want to know you Coming from an educational system that was not easily accessible, ...
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Leaving the South

Darien with book in library
By Darien Corrales '22 Beyond being accepted at Pomona, getting the chance to visit campus remains one of my most personal and cherished experiences. I applied to Pomona through QuestBridge, a program for high-achieving, low-income students to apply to colleges where their full financial need will be met. As part of the QuestBridge application, I had to rank schools from a l...
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The Best Last-Minute Decision of My Life

Siena with friends on Claremont hike
By Siena Swift ‘22 My journey to Pomona College seems to be a little different from those around me. A lot of my friends applied early decision or knew that Pomona was one of their top choices. In my case, I applied to Pomona on a whim of sorts. My dad suggested that I check out the Claremont Colleges because he knew of them from attending UCLA. However, I had my heart set o...
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My Experience Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Toran with group of backtivists
By Toran Langford '21 This past summer, I participated in Operation Groundswell. I was a “backpacktivist” in Thailand. Then, I explored Cambodia on my own. This coined term “backpacktivist” means to act as a guest in a place others call home. We were supposed to adhere to local traditions and customs, which allows us to understand the value of cultures different from our own...
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Farewell Freshman Year

Sophie and friend at sand volleyball area
By Sophia Augustine ‘23 It was that time of the week again: my beloved lunch at Claremont McKenna’s Collins Dining Hall (the third best dining hall in my opinion). Collins Dining Hall is nestled perfectly on the border of Pomona’s and Claremont McKenna’s campuses, providing the ideal place for my friends and I to indulge in a delectable lunch on Friday afternoons after an ex...
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Sunrise at Pomona

sunset at SkySpace
By Ebenezer Mensah ‘23 Imagine this: A bright yellow sun emerging from a dark sky with soft, orange rays piercing through the windows of a small house and casting a silhouette of a young boy, sitting upright with his feet crossed, against the walls of a room in a rural town in Africa. That boy is me. I don’t remember when I started, but watching the sun rise has been an impo...
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Inky Fingers

Studio Art Building
By Jenny Park ‘22 “Mark, I need some help.” My 2D Design professor, Mark Allen, is a character—his funny and quirky demeanor puts anyone at ease. I had wanted to create some prints for a personal project, so naturally he was the first person I went to. We went down to the screen-printing lab and got to work. Screen-printing is a process where you squeegee ink onto a su...
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10 Moments that Highlighted My First Year at Pomona

Selena hiking to Hollywood sign
By Selena Lopez ‘22 I don’t know about you, but, to me, there has always been something about lists that draws me in. “Top ten places to visit,” “best books to read this break,” “47 things to do while at Pomona”— the list goes on. Do I complete these lists? No … not necessarily. I’m also not good at keeping up with the lists that I make. Daily to-do lists? Can’t follow them....
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Rico Nasty and Lil Nas X: An Unlikely Duo

LilNas
By Myles Ashitey ‘22 We’ve all heard that song on the radio, “I’m gonna take my horse to the Old Town Road…”.  It was a nonstop hit for months and rightfully so. Lil Nas X is becoming a defining voice in country music, especially in a genre dominated by white artists. He has consistently remained on the Billboard charts even in the face of their initial ruling about him not ...
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Deciding How to Spend My Time

By Chris Meng '23 My first semester at Pomona College finished not too long ago, and it absolutely flew by. I realized that there are some small but significant distinctions between college and high school. For example, there is no detention for being late. Nobody will chase you around to turn in your work, go eat food or even get out of bed. Professors might send a concerne...
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