Even though I’m about to graduate and my time at Oberlin is coming to a close, I’m almost certain that this is not the last time I will be here. For one, coming to Ohio was already a commonplace in my life before arriving at Oberlin. Much of my extended family lives in Ohio, so I would come to the state at least once a year to visit them. It was actually one of the deciding factors in my choice of Oberlin, as I knew that I would be close to my family and in a place that was relatively familiar. Now that I’ve made a home out of Oberlin, I will most definitely be stopping by when I come up from Chicago to visit my family.
One of the best parts about Commencement Weekend is the reunions. You get to see so many alumni who were once in the place you are now, eagerly and perhaps reluctantly getting ready to walk across the stage. Seeing them come back, though, you know those steps are not your final ones in Oberlin. I’d especially love to come back as an alumni because I’ve found such a community in OSCA these past two years. I remember being so excited to find out that a resident at Kendal had lived in Tank during their college years at Oberlin. It felt like we were already friends having both been in OSCA. I’d love to come back for an alumni picnic, talk to all the current co-opers, reminisce with the people living in Keep about the knick knacks in the lounge that most certainly will still be there, enjoy some yummy homemade food that I love so dearly, and return to a community that I’ll always feel a part of.
Working at Kendal I’ve also gotten to know lots of people who decided to retire at their Alma Mater. It seems a bit impossible to look that far into the future when I hardly know what I’m going to be doing in 5 years, but as I’ve spent lots of time at Kendal and gotten to know the kind of people who reside there, it seems like something I might like to do. I talk to my grandma a lot who is a writer like me, and she likes living near a college because she has the opportunity to take classes and work on her writing in her retirement. I think I’d like to come back to this community later in life, see how much it’s changed (and hasn’t!) and get to enjoy all the wonderful opportunities of the College again in the free time of my late life. One of the highlights of retiring in Oberlin is that you have free, outstanding classical musical concerts in your backyard! I’d love to enjoy that again when I’m older.
I’ve also looked into internships in Cleveland and Columbus, so I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up living in Ohio again eventually. Cleveland is a very nice city that’s not too overwhelming like the bustle of New York or LA. There’s also tons of opportunities (a big reason people like to come to Oberlin), especially in film, which is wonderful for me. You wouldn’t typically think of Cleveland as a film hub, but you’d be surprised. If I do end up living in either of those cities, I’d love to drive to Oberlin every once in a while, even just to adopt a pet for my new home from CATSS (the local rescue that houses their kittens in one of the churches on campus).
Long story short, when I drive back to Chicago after Commencement, I’m not thinking of it like I’ll never see this place again. Oberlin is still a home to me, and I’m sure I’ll be back, probably sooner than I think.
