When I came to Oberlin as a first-year in 2023, I had no clue what I wanted to do after college. I was worried I would never figure it out. I worried Oberlin wasn't the place for me and I would never feel passionate or inspired about academics. I was wrong.
I truly think coming to Oberlin was the best choice I've ever made. While I was reluctant as a high school senior choosing a liberal arts college in Ohio while my peers headed to large schools throughout the East Coast, by the end of my first year, everything had changed.
I entered Oberlin completely undecided, so in my first semester, my course schedule was a whirlwind and whiplash of topics I haven't touched since, but I am so grateful I had that experience. The freedom of Oberlin's curriculum allowed me to explore. I took Food Studies, Acting, Sensory Studies, and Anthropology my first semester. I'm not majoring in any of those things now, but I still think about what I learned in those courses.
What changed a lot for me was my involvement in Community-Based Work-Study. I began working in memory care at Kendal at Oberlin toward the end of my first semester. This is when things changed. I had my "aha" moment.
In my second semester, I dove into Psychology and Communication (my now majors), and throughout the following years I ended up adding a minor in Global Health and becoming an honors researcher. I have become passionate about dementia research and pursuing Clinical Neuropsychology after graduation.
If I had picked that large school on the East Coast, I never would have entered dementia research. I never would have sought out the plethora of internship and professional development opportunities I've had since. I have Oberlin to thank for my passion. When I made my college decision, my mom sat me down and told me this:
"Sammi, we've visited lots of great colleges, and this decision is yours to make, but I just want to say one thing. While all of these colleges boast that they produce post-graduation salaries and financial success, Oberlin boasts that they produce good people. What do you think matters more?"
I think about this a lot. I have devoted my career to serving people living with dementia and making a positive impact on their quality of life. This journey is thanks to Oberlin. Oberlin has both served to make me a competitive applicant for post-grad jobs and PhD programs while also inspiring me to amplify empathetic and person-centered values into these career aspirations. Oberlin makes good people, and that's why I'm grateful I made the right decision.
