Paulena (Lena) Papagiannis
Majors: double-degree: French (international studies concentration) and vocal performance
Greetings and congratulations, first years! The daunting college search is over, and youÕve found your place. Every school claims to be the most special, the most unique, the most ŅrightÓ for you. But over the past two years IÕve come to realize that Oberlin is different (and I donÕt just mean quirky). ItÕs a place where competition doesnÕt mean conceit, where polished performances are respected, not pushed aside by prideful peers. Scholars attend lectures and rock concerts in the same day. Dreadlocked whiz kids transcribe everything from Beethoven to Bob Marley, double-major in African-American Studies and Neuroscience, and chair the Oberlin Snowboarding Club. Oberlin is a place where vegans can pop their collars without being judged, where Jews can advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state without expecting expulsion from their faith, and where you can find your niche, even amidst the confusing craziness of your first semester.
I hail from a Maryland suburb of our nationÕs capital, as do many Obies. IÕm a vocal performance major in the Conservatory and a recently declared French major with an international studies concentration in the College. IÕve become very involved in community service, especially at the Murray Ridge Center and at Oberlin High School. IÕm also into musical theater, political activism, and other (seemingly) unrelated pursuits. I find that being involved on campus and in the community not only motivates me personally, but also moves me to excel academically. If you have questions about how to get involved according to your interests, please feel free to ask.
Oberlin is far from perfect, and the generalizations I described arenÕt true for everyone. But our community is vibrant, creative, and inquisitive—in no small part thanks to you. Welcome!
Short List of Favorites
Local Cuisine: The $2.00 rice and beans side dish at Agave will fill you up without emptying your wallet. You can add a variety of locally-grown organic goodies to the basic platter for only $0.50 each. If you think something labeled as a side wonÕt be enough, the $4.50 half nachos is a perfect dinner for one (or two even, depending on how hungry you are). Regardless of what you order, Agave is a mouth-watering bargain for the starving student.
Historical Figure: I recently discovered Chevalier d'on, a fascinating 18th-century French diplomat who lived the first half of his life as a man and the second half of her life as a woman. If youÕre interested in learning more about gender, sex, and sexuality issues, Oberlin provides a wealth of educational resources.
Under-advertised Resource at Oberlin: The Language Lab on the third floor of Peters Hall is a great work area, complete with several chirping birds (yes, real ones!) to break the silence of study and a nap-ready hammock equipped with several pillows. As all the computer desktops read, the airy space is Ņnot a quiet lab,Ó so feel free to give dramatic readings of your papers or engage in tweeting discussions with the birdies if thatÕs your thing.
Favorite First-year Course
FREN 373: Intro la littrature francophone (Intro to Francophone Literature), Professor Yedes (offered in the spring). Language classes at any level are a great way to connect with your peers—everyoneÕs bound to be confused at some point, and that inevitably brings people closer together. There are only so many foreign language classes, so itÕs not uncommon for the same group of people to reunite nearly every semester for another linguistic adventure. Lower level language classes offer frequent opportunities for group study, so youÕre bound to bond with a core of fellow language lovers.