Uncategorized – Voices

A Breadth of Fresh Air

Posted on July 9, 2021 by Leslie Paz

Leslie's small dog cuddling a copy of Hesiod

By Leslie Paz ’24 Enrolling at Pomona comes with a breath of fresh air. The lenient general education requirements and the vast array of courses mean that students are free to explore to their heart's content. As an undecided first year this past fall, I want to share how these two factors helped guide me to my current interests. It was 2:27 p.m. on August 12th, 2020, and...

Somehow, Some Way, Community Finds You

Posted on June 17, 2021 by Ben Baraga

group of 7 students attempting to do freeze frame jump

By Ben Baraga ‘24 Although I’ve finished my first year of college, just like the rest of my classmates, I’m mentally stuck in March of my senior year of high school! Indeed, nothing wakes you up out of a 15-month spring break like being called a “rising sophomore” and the wave of nausea that comes with it. But being bitter about a global pandemic is sooo last semester. I’...

The College Search: Sage(hen) Advice from Oluyemisi

Posted on May 10, 2021 by Oluyemisi Bolonduro

This is the fifth in a six-part series of advice for high-school-aged students about the college search process. Enjoy! By Oluyemisi Bolonduro '23 Salutations all, My name is Oluyemisi Bolonduro, and I’m a second year at Pomona majoring in Africana Studies. Some of you may have nooooo idea where you want to go to college and others of you have had an idea for years. Whet...

The College Search: Sage(hen) Advice from Bryce

Posted on May 4, 2021May 4, 2021 by Bryce Kelly

two students working together at a table, one seated, one standing

This is the third in a six-part series of advice for high-school-aged students about the college search process (and the only one to rhyme–Advice/Bryce). Enjoy! By Bryce Kelly ’23 For students just beginning to think about the college process, I have some tips to share. As long as you are doing something, you aren’t doing anything wrong. It could be joining a club, playi...

The College Search: Sage(hen) Advice from Nelia

Posted on April 27, 2021April 30, 2021 by Nelia Perry

Nelia with 2 other orientation leaders, all in red

This is the first in a six-part series of advice for high-school-aged students about the college search process. Enjoy! By Nelia Perry ‘24 As I approach the end of my first year of college, I have been reflecting back on my high school experience: What led me to a small, liberal arts college? How did I know Pomona would be a good fit? Why didn’t anyone tell me how valuable ...

I’m a Tom Boy

Posted on February 22, 2021February 22, 2021 by Bryce Kelly

Bryce holding a bunch of college brochures

By Bryce Kelly ‘23 My mother kept staring at me, trying to judge my feelings. We were driving away from an admitted student’s day at a university I’ll call Hardstone College, and I was refusing to share even an ounce of emotion about it. Not because I had none, but because I knew that if I showed eagerness or disapproval, so would my parents, which would only loop back to me...

Quarantine Gaming

Posted on January 26, 2021January 26, 2021 by Hayeon Lee

By Hayeon Kayla Lee ‘23 Recently, during this online school year, one of the hobbies that has been most valuable to me has been playing video games. This is an activity that I did even when the school year was in person, but I found that I have come to appreciate my hobby much more now that we are learning remotely. It has served as a respite from the chaos that seems to be ...

The Art of the Cold DM

Posted on December 28, 2020December 21, 2020 by Sonam Rikha

By Sonam Rikha ‘24 Having your first semester of college be online is no easy feat. Whether it’s juggling time zones, Zoom fatigue, or the slow loss of sanity from being at home, Zoom University is definitely not how I imagined my first semester of college. As a person who was heavily dependent on friends and fellow classmates to get through difficult classes in high school,...

Application Do’s and Don’t’s From the Experts

Posted on December 14, 2020December 14, 2020 by Nelia Perry

image of college application with coffee cup

This is a special group post, with Oluyemisi Bolonduro, '23 Bryce Kelly '23, Chris Meng '23, Nelia Perry '24, and Sonam Rikha '24 conversing about their college application processes, in hopes you can benefit from their wisdom (and their mistakes). Bryce: What’s the strangest piece of advice you got when you were going through the college application process? Sonam: Be f...

A First-Year Survival Guide to Midterms: Zoom Edition

Posted on December 7, 2020December 7, 2020 by Sonam Rikha

By Sonam Rikha ‘24 AHHHHHHHH! Screaming late in the night during the middle of the semester is definitely not ideal. Especially when your family members get out of bed to see why you’re shouting at your laptop and punching the air in frustration. I’d always heard of all-nighters and the grave amount of caffeine that college students consumed to get through midterms, but I...