Combatting an Erasure of My Identity: Feeling Unforeign in Oldenborg

Vids in long skirt against glittery backdrop
By Vids Hingad ‘25 A ticket from Terminal 2, Chattrapatti Shivaji Terminal in Mumbai to LAX. A 26-hour journey. Four oceans in the middle. Before boarding the flight from Mumbai to LAX, my dadi (grandma) always used to put a teeka on my forehead. This red dot symbolized that, no matter where I am, she would protect me and guide me. Guilty of wondering what strangers would...
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Roller Skating After a Chemistry Midterm? My Experiences in Pomona Scholars of Science

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 ...
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Reflections on Having a Roommate

Hasana with Cecilia in background
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...
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Get some sleep! Play a song! Get that ice cream!

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...
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Dealing with Stress

work harder sign
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 ...
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Mock Trial: The Power of Community

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...
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Life Happens Outside of Pomona Too

treats and coffee cups
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...
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Q&A With a Transfer Student

group of students sitting in chairs outside eating pizza
By Siena Swift ‘23 Transferring to a different college is a big decision. This week, I interviewed my friend and housemate, Lilly Haave, about her experience transferring from Barnard College to Pomona College. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. Q: Could you please introduce yourself?  A: My name is Lilly. I transferred from Barnard after my...
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What Time Is It? DECISION TIME

singer Lucky Daye with microphone
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 “AHHHHH I GOT IN!” We’ve all heard the screams, we’ve all watched the reaction videos, and some of us have even screamed those same words ourselves. The college application process is tough: which schools should I apply to? Who should I ask to write my letter of recommendation? Can I even afford to go to this school? Though for some, the decision proces...
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Mentorship at Pomona

students and staff hanging out in QSC
By Nelia Perry '24 Transitioning to college, navigating college, and transitioning out of college can be stressful, overwhelming, and confusing to manage. But you do not have to face these stages alone at Pomona! Whenever people talk about layers, they use an onion as a metaphor, so I guess I will do the same here: Pomona mentorship is like an onion; it has many layers. Thes...
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