Joycelyn Eby
Majors: east Asian studies (China concentration) and music
performance-bassoon
I'm a fourth
year double-degree student from Seattle, Washington. My college major is east
Asian studies (EAS). I came to Oberlin knowing I wanted to study Chinese, but I
was still surprised and delighted to discover what an amazing program we have
here. I have, in previous semesters, served as the department's student major
representative, which allowed me to attend faculty meetings and share with professors
what students really think. I know the EAS faculty well, so let me know if you
have any questions about them—I can tell you now that I love all of them!
I've also been involved with the
Shansi Program—they give you money to go to Asia over Winter Term,
and love helping out first-years.
I hope you are
excited about Winter Term, because it is one of the coolest parts of going to
Oberlin, especially for those of us that would rather spend January in Miami,
Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, or other such sunny locations instead of northern
Ohio. Those are just a few of the places that my friends and I have gone to
complete projects. Winter Term is just one of the many times you'll find
faculty who will support whatever projects excite you—whether you want to
work with orphans in Malawi or study the ecosystem of Lorain County. I hope you
have a great year at Oberlin!
Short List of Favorites
Local Cuisine:
Anything from the Oberlin Market. In addition to Oberlin's best coffee and at
least 30 varieties of tea, every day they have new kinds of freshly baked
scones, muffins, breads, and cookies, and soups and sandwiches for lunch as
well. Great source of vegan and gluten-free treats, as well (tip for fellow
omnivores: vegan cookies always have the best/darkest chocolate because it
can't contain milk).
Writer: I love to
read just about whatever book you put in front of me, but lately I especially
love anything written by Haruki Murakami, even if his works always make me cry.
Under-advertised Resource at Oberlin: Wind Ensemble Concerts. Wind ensemble is one of the four
ensembles in the Conservatory, but its concerts are by far the worst attended.
Don't be scared—you won't be listening to a giant concert band. Often,
the groups are only 8-10 people, and play without a conductor. These concerts
really showcase the strengths of the Oberlin wind players.
Favorite First-year Course
Music History
101: Introduction to the History and Literature of Music, Professor McGuire.
Though you
might hear a lot of Conservatory freshmen whine about having a daily class, I
loved having music history in my first semester at Oberlin because it addresses
an incredibly broad period of time, but through the lens of cultural evolution
rather than a purely historical survey. Professor McGuire made me think about
the art and music that surrounds me on a daily basis in a whole new way. I
would highly recommend this course—plus Professor McGuire is particularly
oriented towards introducing freshmen to college academia.