Students of Color

Tackling Imposter Syndrome at Pomona College

Posted on February 25, 2021September 21, 2022 by Hayeon Lee

screenshot of unmute and start video buttons on zoom

By Hayeon Lee ‘23 Have you ever felt like you don’t belong in an environment where everyone else seems more capable? More at home? When you begin to feel the icky feelings of Imposter Syndrome, know that you are not alone. During the summer of 2020, I had the pleasure of interning for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships as a Communications Int...

Zoom University: College of Pomona

Posted on October 29, 2020September 21, 2022 by Oluyemisi Bolonduro

Friends from French, featuring Oliver bunny

By Oluyemisi Bolonduro ‘23 Did you know I’ve never had my first day of classes on Pomona’s campus? Freshman year I started the semester walking to my class at CMC with my roommate, who was walking to Pitzer. This time around, we were chillin’ in our rooms at home, and I sent her a message that said, “annnddd this year it’s on zoom :,,,))”. I don’t know anybody who genuinely ...

Picking Pomona

Posted on August 20, 2020September 21, 2022 by Oluyemisi Bolonduro

Friends lying on grass drinking from plastic cup

By Oluyemisi Bolonduro '23 The following post includes four core reasons why I picked Pomona. After writing my last blog, Pomona, Progress, and the Pandemic, you may be wondering, "why this specific topic after you just expressed your hate for Pomona??" Well, if you read the post then you know I don't hate a lot of things, Pomona included! Though I will admit, this post is a...

Coast to Coast: Journey from Uniformity to Diversity

Posted on August 6, 2020September 21, 2022 by Sophia Augustine

Sophia and friends from Fall POP on quad

By Sophia Augustine ‘23 Realizing the uniformity of my predominantly white, suburban town in the middle of Northern New Jersey (91% white, 5.47% Hispanic or Latinx, and 1.84% Asian) was quite an infuriating and frustrating experience. Living in Mendham New Jersey for my entire life, with the exception of my family’s brief move to Southern California for a year, has provided ...

My Experience Backpacking in Southeast Asia

Posted on June 18, 2020September 21, 2022 by Toran Langford

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...

Icky Introductions

Posted on June 15, 2020September 21, 2022 by Oluyemisi Bolonduro

By Oluyemisi Bolonduro ‘23 “What’s your name?” “Oluyemisi.” “Do you have a nickname?” “No, just Oluyemisi.” “Can I give you a nickname?” “No, I don’t do nicknames.” My whole life prior to Pomona, I went by a nickname; it was how I tried to assimilate. It was a tool I used to make people comfortable when interacting with me. I decided to go by my full name, ...

Rico Nasty and Lil Nas X: An Unlikely Duo

Posted on March 3, 2020September 21, 2022 by Myles Ashitey

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 ...

From Hiding in My Room to Being a Student Leader in the Draper Center

Posted on February 6, 2020September 21, 2022 by Selena Lopez

By Selena Lopez ‘22 Back in the year 2018 (seems far away, doesn’t it?), I came across a Facebook post asking for someone to lead a tour for a group of first-generation, low-income students visiting the Draper Center, the center for community service at Pomona. Being a fellow first-gen, low income student, I thought it would be fun to show them around my school. Did I know ...

Why Did I Choose Pomona?

Posted on January 2, 2020September 21, 2022 by Myles Ashitey

By Myles Ashitey ‘22 Coming from a small boarding school in southeastern Pennsylvania, I didn’t want to stray too far from my comfort zone when choosing a college. Also high on my list of importance was ensuring that my college education was affordable to me. As it turned out, Pomona was one of the only schools I applied to that offered me a viable financial aid package, whi...

What is Culture?

Posted on October 30, 2019September 21, 2022 by Myles Ashitey

By Myles Ashitey ‘22 Whether I choose to acknowledge it or not, Ghanaian culture has permeated every aspect of my life. Through Sunday services, extravagant birthday celebrations, and even more extravagant wedding ceremonies, I’ve found a community of people eager to embrace the traditions that have lasted for generations. I can’t lie. It’s comforting having people with simi...