I am graduating college in exactly 30 days from today, and as I think about wrapping my time at Oberlin, I struggle to summarize what the experience has meant. How many of the 500 concerts per year did I go to? How many times did I go on a bike ride on the beautiful bike path we have? Did I go to the Oberlin Arboretum enough times? Did I connect with my professors as much as I could have? Am I leaving a newfound home?
As I write these questions in my scrapbook, I prepare the things that embody the culmination of my college career – from research presentations to mini graduation ceremonies. Today, I thought I’d walk you through the plans for my last few weeks as a college student. How does Oberlin celebrate your college career in 30 days?
This upcoming week is a big research week at Oberlin. Many graduating seniors, including many of my friends, are presenting their research throughout the week, culminating in the annual Oberlin Research Symposium. At the event, I will also be presenting my research for my Communication Studies capstone – the culmination of one of my majors. At the end of the week, I will be attending a fashion show organized by a dear friend whose project was about how people use fashion to express themselves and their identities. In between these events, I am preparing a presentation for my Honors defense – the research project I did for my second major.
Even within the busyness of final academic tasks, I have found a lot of focus on celebrating our college time too. During the last week of classes, there is a Student Leadership & Involvement Awards 25-26 event that recognizes student organizations and individual students for their accomplishments. The day after, the International Student Scholar Services office (ISSS) is organizing a 2026 Senior Celebration for International Students. By the end of classes, I will have an end-of-year celebration for the Spanish In The Elementary Schools (SITES) program, through which I taught Spanish at the local elementary school. Right after, I will head to a senior celebration of the Hispanic Studies department, hearing the research, projects, and future plans for those who are a part of it. In between, I am attending many mini graduation ceremonies celebrating POC graduates, LGBTQ+ graduates, identity-based groups, and so much more.
As I attend these research presentations and celebratory events, I can’t help but think of the soon-to-be-Obies, those that have yet to start their journey as we wrap ours. Maybe because I’m graduating soon, or maybe because I’m feeling sentimental, but I’ve recently noticed many of the admitted students that come to visit Oberlin through our All Roads program: Can they imagine the projects they’ll do? Do they know what end-of-year-celebrations they’ll get to experience? Will they teach Spanish in the elementary schools? Or will they do STEM research?
As they’re wondering how to pack for college, I’m wondering what outfit to wear with my gap and gown; and I don’t know if it’s the sentimentality of the 30 days left or something else, but I hope that once they end up in the final year at Oberlin, they, too, feel the pride, joy, and fulfillment that each final research presentation and celebratory ceremony brings.
