Taylor Soderborg

taylor.soderborg@oberlin.edu

Major: neuroscience

Hello first-years! I come from the lovely San Francisco, California. During college my focus has been in the neuroscience community both at Oberlin and beyond. For the past two summers I have participated in summer research fellowships at UT Southwestern, Dallas (2008) and University of California, San Francisco (2009). During the fall of 2008 I studied medicine in Denmark. Currently I am working on my honor’s project, which focuses on Alzheimer’s Disease. I also volunteer at the Lorain County Family Planning Clinic.

Once I settled into Oberlin, I realized how many interests of mine could be sated here. Over the past two years, I have been a member of the Oberlin Student Cooperative Association (OSCA), and I highly suggest stopping by a co-op for a delicious meal! Through OSCA my awareness of environmental issues has grown and I have developed a particular interest in food policies. I guess it’s hard not to when you spend a few days each semester discussing the evils of bananas and local verses organic foods. During my first two years I was also heavily involved in theatre at Oberlin from tap dancing to playing the Plant in Little Shop of Horrors. I was also a member of Nothing But Treble, Oberlin’s oldest all-female a capella group. I continue to work for the theatre and dance department doing various forms of publicity and show staffing.

My advice is to check out all of the opportunities to get funding to do independent study such as Shansi or winter term grants. Also, see as much awesome theatre as you can while you are here. The shows are way cheap and so good! Most importantly however, make time to chill with other Oberlin kids. The people are what make Oberlin really a unique place.

Come say hi!

Short List of Favorites

Local Cuisine: The ever-changing and sometimes wacky Feve brunch menu. Yum, yum!

Writer: Do the authors of my neuroscience textbook count? Just kidding. I love Don DeLillo, especially White Noise.

Under-advertised Resource at Oberlin: Wilder Building. There are so many great under-utilized rooms, for example the meditation room and the craft room.

Favorite First-year Courses

DANC 100: Modern Dance I. Despite having to wake up rather early, this class was such a refreshing addition to my academically loaded schedule. Since it is an intro class, people have a lot of fun and there isn’t much pressure to be perfect—a rare occurrence in college.