Never Say Never: My Journey Through Math

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
two math medals
By Sonam Rikha ’24 I will never take a math class again, I promised myself. It was my last day in high school. I proudly exited out of my virtual AP Calculus class and then hurled my calculus notebook into the trash. Despite the deep disgust I’d developed for analyzing functions, I’d miraculously aced my math class and passed the AP test, all while during the pandemic. Only ...
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Drawing Conclusions (A Pomona Pals Retrospective)

Posted on by Ben Baraga
cartoon images of Ben and Brandolyn
By Ben Baraga ‘24 I don’t know how to draw. My hand’s way too shaky, it’s a lot of work, and half the time I don’t have the confidence to start on a project, let alone keep going after I make a mistake. But the funny thing about the pandemic, especially the pandemic during summer vacation, is that it forces you into such deep boredom that you’re willing to give every failed ...
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Q&A With a Transfer Student

Posted on by Siena Swift
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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A Breadth of Fresh Air

Posted on 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...
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Finding Home in Online Spaces

Posted on by Lucy Pan
Lucy & 4 friends on grass with masks
By Lucy Pan ‘24 When the COVID-19 pandemic first started back in March of 2020, I could’ve never imagined that it would completely change the course of my entire first year of college. The abrupt transition from everyday in-person classes to Zoom school was uncomfortable, but I accepted this changing reality as temporary— a short phase from which we would eventually return t...
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Somehow, Some Way, Community Finds You

Posted on 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’...
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Embracing My Inner Grandma

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
Sonam with cream and maroon scarf
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 I feel like I’ve been sprinting these past five years, thinking that if I stop, I’ll trip and fall. Growing up, my parents emphasized two things: “Education comes first” and “Take advantage of every opportunity.” When I started my first year of high school I clung onto these phrases and made sure to fill my schedule with difficult classes and many extracur...
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Four Hurrahs for Finals

Posted on by Oluyemisi Bolonduro
sunset with trees in foreground and crane in background
By Oluyemisi Bolonduro ’23 Salutations, I am finishing my sophomore year at Pomona! I still have four more semesters to go, but I’m marking this Spring 2021 semester as the best finals season so far (and maybe overall). My four core classes in photography, philosophy, French and research methods are the reason why. Without further ado, I shall describe each final… hurrah, hu...
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Voting in Two Presidential Elections During the Pandemic

Posted on by Sonam Rikha
Sonam holding her Green Book
By Sonam Rikha ‘24 In the months leading up to the US presidential race, my Instagram was flooded with messages telling me to register to vote. Whether it was Cardi B, the kids from Stranger Things, or my fellow classmates, all seemed to want one thing: for me to exercise my civic right and vote. Luckily for me, I was already registered and, by the time October came, ...
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Semester Wrap Up: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted on by Nelia Perry
two bags of coffee
By Nelia Perry ‘24 With the semester coming to an end and finals fast approaching, I thought I could shine some light on what the end of a (virtual) semester looks like at Pomona. There are good things, bad things, and maybe a few ugly things thrown in as well. While “the good” comes first in the saying, I like to save the best for last, so let’s start with “the ugly.” Fi...
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