Interests
burritos, storytelling, blue skies, reproductive justice, baking, documentaries, swimming in rivers, Broadway, pickles, journalism
Hey there, I’m Kira! I came to Oberlin from a small town in Northern California, the land of redwood trees and hippies. At Oberlin, I lived in six (!) different places - Barrows, Kahn, Fairkid, Noah, J-House, and a sweet off-campus house. I'm a big talker, so I always loved finding all the coziest spots in Oberlin to chat with my friends about current events, Mitski, queer stuff, and the best TV shows out there.
Most of my time at Oberlin was spent making films at the Apollo, freaking out about the Midwestern winter, gushing about my classes, and riding my bike around campus. When not doing those things, I trained students about sexual misconduct through Preventing and Responding to Sexual Misconduct (PRSM) and worked in the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. I was also a PAL for first-year students, a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lorain County, and a major representative for the Comparative American Studies department. At different points in my Oberlin career, I wrote and edited for Wilder Voice, worked at The Oberlin Review, sung in an acapella group, and led Students United for Reproductive Freedom.
I am thrilled to be an Oberlin alum. If you see me out in the world, definitely say hi! I love sharing my adventures with other Obies!
Entries from this blogger
Featured entry
March 24, 2016
I wanted to write a letter to myself that would've helped me out when I found out I got into Oberlin. Prospective students, whether you get into Oberlin or not, I know you'll find a place that feels right for you. Sending you all love and good energy!
All entries
July 6, 2019
At Oberlin, I found a home that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
May 24, 2019
During my time as a blogger, I’ve used several posts to interview my friends about their various experiences with Oberlin. Today, we’re talking about WORK!
May 22, 2019
To end my Oberlin Bucket List series, I put together a big round-up post! Writing this has been such a wonderful and emotional journey through my years here.
May 12, 2019
I've spent the past few months creating a huge project in each of my majors!
May 6, 2019
Finding a college with a great acapella scene was crucial to me as a high schooler. I'm so happy that I was a member of the Acapelicans for much of my time at Oberlin!
April 14, 2019
I’m so grateful to have found a home writing and editing for a literary magazine on campus.
March 31, 2019
As I get closer to graduation, I'm feeling extra thankful for my experience as a writer on the Oberlin Blogs.
March 15, 2019
I revisited my first-year dorm as part of a place-based observation assignment for my Media Ethnography class.
February 27, 2019
From morning to night, this is what I did on February 26, 2019, a chilly Tuesday in my last semester as a student at Oberlin.
February 8, 2019
Since my first semester at Oberlin, I’ve kept a long bucket list of all the things I want to do before I graduate. For the next few months, I’ll be sharing some entries from the list!
January 24, 2019
Two years ago on the Blogs, I asked some friends about their winter term experiences. I thought it was neat to hear about the wide range of projects people do.
October 29, 2018
Can you believe I’m a senior? I’m having a blast! This semester has been a wonderful swirl of good choices and lucky breaks so far, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
August 24, 2018
Orientation is just a blip in your college experience, so enjoy it and let it be what it is! Here are a few tips to remember throughout the week.
August 5, 2018
Here are a few photographs from the (many) dorms I've lived in while a student at Oberlin.
March 17, 2018
This April is "Consent Month" - a whole month of events and discussions about consent and healthy communication, sponsored by PRSM and the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion!
January 4, 2018
It takes a long time to settle in at college, but I’ve finally done it.
November 18, 2017
Sometimes I look around at all the activities and people and places and art in my life and smile. Though I’m busy, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
August 22, 2017
I remember so clearly my mom driving away that first day. She gave me a big hug and got in the rental car. I leaned through the window to give her a kiss on the cheek. It was one of the clearest moments of change in my life, and I felt it in my chest the way you do when you're about to cry.
August 8, 2017
To help you out as summer comes to a close, I wrote up my own basic packing list. Happy packing!
May 28, 2017
It feels strange to say that I'm a junior in college, but here we are! Here are some lessons I learned over the past two semesters.
April 13, 2017
What's a typical day at Oberlin, you ask? There's no such thing! Here's a day in my life - Wednesday, April 12, 2017, to be exact.
March 17, 2017
I'm telling everyone I know lately: this is the hardest group of classes I've ever taken at Oberlin. And I LOVE them.
January 27, 2017
Welcome to the second installment of Ask a Friend, in which four of my fellow Obies share their thoughts on the ups and downs of college life.
December 20, 2016
I want to be truthful about my whole experience: the joys, the triumphs, and the pain. No semester is ever all good or all bad.
November 27, 2016
It's late November and the height of college-application season - and I'm here to help! Here's my advice, compiled neatly into categories and lists.
October 22, 2016
Whenever I tell someone outside of Oberlin that I'm a Comparative American Studies major, they have no idea what it is. I like to describe it as the study of how one's experience in the United States differs based on the many facets of their identity.
October 4, 2016
Well, here we are. It's already year two of my Oberlin adventure! In all honesty, sophomore year has been a little weird so far.
August 8, 2016
Welcome to Ask a Friend, in which four of my fellow Obies share their thoughts on the ups and downs of college life. In less than three weeks, we'll be back at Oberlin, so today's theme is BACK TO SCHOOL!
July 2, 2016
Love makes you want to skip through the mountains, turning in circles and singing like Julie Andrews. Being away from the person you love is decidedly less enjoyable.
April 22, 2016
I ventured outside of Oberlin this month and went to Hampshire College in Massachusetts for the Civil Liberties and Public Policy conference with other members of Students United for Reproductive Freedom.
March 6, 2016
I can't believe I've never made a post about my classes, which make up a huge part of my Oberlin experience!
February 20, 2016
In a way, I'm glad I didn't get what I wanted right away last semester. I ended up getting to see more of Oberlin outside of my "expected" path.
February 4, 2016
I'm so proud of the work SURF is doing here at Oberlin, though, of course, there's always more to do. Hopefully, as we move forward, we'll continue to take risks and bring more awareness to issues of reproductive rights and abortion access in Oberlin, Lorain County, and Ohio!
January 19, 2016
Winter Term is what you make it! For me, it's all about going out into the world and taking risks - and I love it.
December 8, 2015
In case you're in need of some new techniques as we go into finals, here's my personal list of study tips.
November 29, 2015
One of my favorite parts of Oberlin so far has been the huge variety of speakers that visit campus. I'm a big fan of lectures, and there are endless opportunities to attend them here!
November 15, 2015
We took time to reflect on how our lives have changed over the past few months. I've only recently begun to realize that my going to college was as big a deal for my parents as it was for me.
October 25, 2015
I was officially sold when the tour guide described Oberlin as a place where being weird is celebrated and loved.
October 7, 2015
Someone told me once that it takes at least a semester to figure out how you fit in at college. Finding home here is an ongoing process.