The gentle softness. A dialogue where the two of them find phrases slipping naturally out of their inner souls, flowing, overlapping with each other at times and pausing for a restful break at others… That sheer sense of indescribable serendipity and relaxation that render you speechless: a quiet observer to this brave new world where you anticipate the unknown rises and falls....
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Social Life
Being Hawaiian in Claremont: Reflections from a Student from the 50th State
Aloha! My name is Chandler Bridgman, and I am a first-year student from the island of Oahu in the State of Hawaii. As you would imagine, my transition to Pomona and the city of Claremont has been exciting. Although the much drier climate and less lush environment are very different from my home across the sea, there are many similar cultural experiences both on and off campus. ...
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Finding Family in First-Year Seminar
If you ask first years who their closest friends are, they might say something like, “Oh, my spogro is tight!” (sponsor group) or “I love everyone in my AAMP/ISMP/Quest/etc. group” or “People from my OA!” I’m sure the last thing they’d ever say is, “My ID1.” For those who don’t know, ID1 is a required writing seminar for all first-years. In Fall 2015, course topics included J.R...
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Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy (CJLPP): A Story of Collaboration and Growth
I feel its weight in my hands. Its interesting texture. The unique scent. That feeling of flipping each page with pride and joy — each page that is equally thought-provoking, and each crystalizing memories of all of those precious moments that we have shared collectively, as we carefully pondered each detail, discussed our thoughts with each other, and made decisions that would...
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Building a Home Away from Home for International Students: the International Student Mentor Program (ISMP)
For prospective incoming international students, studying abroad in another part of the world in just a few months can feel like quite an adventure — thrilling, mysterious, and nerve-racking all at once.
At Pomona College, students are constantly seeking ways to help each other to feel at home while we study and live in a home away from our “real” homes. The Internationa...
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Remember the Sagehens
SCIAC
To some, this simple acronym may seem rather underwhelming.
It may sound vaguely suggestive of some reject allergy medication, or perhaps the newest dieting trend (likely focusing on eating cardboard flavored paste and/or avoiding meat, dairy, sugar, and anything else remotely edible).
To me, and I think many others, it means so much more.
It means four days o...
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How Posse at Pomona Changed My Life
When my roommate told me she was part of the “Miami Posse,” I hadn't yet heard of Posse. I found out that Posse Foundation is a great program that selects groups of public high school students across America to attend universities on full scholarship. These cohorts are comprised of intelligent and promising students who may be overlooked by the traditional college application...
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Loss as a College Student
I've never been one to stay sad.
It's not that I haven't had the occasional minor emotional breakdown (thanks, first year Chemistry) or fictional-character-related sobbing fit (in fact, I probably have had more than my fair share by now). It's just that being sad was just so much more exhausting than pulling myself together and sucking it up. The transition never seemed so d...
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A First-Year’s Reflection on Happiness
I’m going to be real with you, folks: college has been hard. I've had to face new challenges living away from home, adapting to college academic expectations, and most importantly, redefining my own happiness in a new environment. There were definitely times when I questioned whether I belonged at Pomona, and whether I would be able to call it my new home. Though I have come a ...
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Thriving as a Student (Leader)
spon·sor
noun.
1. A sophomore who lives in a first-year hall throughout the year with 1 or 2 co-sponsors and 15 to 18 first-year students, with the objective of easing the transition to college by creating a safe and welcoming living environment.
2. Just another struggling student trying to make it in the world.
As I approach the close of fall semester of my second year a...
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