The Wild National Parks Near Pomona

Posted on by Emma Grace Howlett
Emma Grace in a canyon
By Emma Grace Howlett ‘25 While life at Pomona College can be invigorating, I still look forward to breaks for a chance to explore off campus and recuperate from excessive studying. I spent both fall and spring breaks this year exploring the two national parks within reasonable driving distance of Pomona: Joshua Tree and Death Valley National Park. Coming from such a lush...
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Reflections on Having a Roommate

Posted on by Hasana Parker
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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Do You Love the Beach Like I Do?

Posted on by Bilal Adamjee
Bilal and 2 friends at the beach with Santa Monica Pier in background
By Bilal Adamjee ‘24 I love the beach. When people ask me, ‘What brought you to Pomona College?’ the beach always comes up. The beach does remind me of home – that, and the warm weather and palm trees. It was honestly a big factor in deciding where I wanted to study when I first started my college applications in high school. I was born and raised in Kenya, where I’ve spe...
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Get some sleep! Play a song! Get that ice cream!

Posted on by Emily Kim
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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How To Ask for Help When You’re Drowning in a Scary College Class

Posted on by Seohyeon Lee
illustration of ghost-like figure with question marks and anxiety around it
By Seohyeon Lee ‘25 I was clueless about everything when I started my first year at Pomona. As an international student from South Korea, I didn’t know what to expect from going to college in the United States. I was happy to get into a good liberal arts college, but I was terrified that I would face a steep learning curve with very little preparation. Looking back, I did...
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Dealing with Stress

Posted on by Porter Reyes
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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Singing Through the Mask

Posted on by Emma Grace Howlett
backs of three female singers facing Bridges Hall of Music stage
By Emma Grace Howlett ‘25 When I was ten years old, I auditioned for the Seattle Children’s Chorus with a blanket over my head. I was too shy to sing my audition song, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and hid underneath my comforting childhood friend, Blankie. With the choir director blocked from view and Blankie’s soft blue fabric creating a calming atmosphere, I was able to ...
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Life at Pomona Is … (as seen through the lens of everyday objects)

Posted on by Serena Lin
collage of images
By Serena Lin '25 As my first year of college comes to a close, I’ve looked back on a folder of photos titled “joys.” Being mindful of memorable moments is a habit that I developed as a busy college student. So here are some vignettes about Pomona through the lens of everyday objects. Birdstrike binocular: why not? On a whim, I reached out to the biology department...
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Put Yourself Out There

Posted on by Bilal Adamjee
5 male rugby players
By Bilal Adamjee ‘24 I believe there is beauty in putting yourself out there, in trying new things. To be vulnerable is to set yourself up for success. There is a unique power in this, and I increasingly feel that the community and opportunities at Pomona College are conducive for that. Yes, there are a number of people who know how they want to use their time going into ...
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Mock Trial: The Power of Community

Posted on by Vidusshi Hingad
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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