We have collected hundreds of personal narratives from students, alumni, faculty, and staff that explain the merits and strengths of Oberlin through the eyes of those who have experienced it firsthand.
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On working with IWP
Cynthia Malasky ’11
“For two months, I have been in charge of the Oberlin region, working with two other student interns to teach English classes, serve as interpreters, and prepare for court cases for undocumented and...
On researching wolves in Minnesota
Aaron Kokotek ’11
“We heard howls in the distance, howled in response, and heard the wolf pack reply to our call.”
On becoming a writer
Zoe Gould ’14
“This piece was not just a reflection of my own competency, like other formal essays had been; this was someone else’s story entirely.”
On entrepreneurship
R. Jon MacDonald ’03
“The flexibility and desire to allow students to do what they believe is best for them has paid off in more ways than I can count and led to lifelong entrepreneur endeavors.”
On joining Women in Math and Computer Science
Lauren Wong ’16
“I found friends, a support system, connections, and something I was willing to speak up about, which is what I think Oberlin is all about.”
On the influence of an Oberlin education
Elizabeth Taylor Quilliam ’74
“Oberlin was not simply a 4-year stopping point, but has been and continues to be an essential part of my journey. It taught me to be ever vigilant in seeking social justice, curious, caring, open to...
On growing
Althea Lamel ’13
“I realized I had come a long way from the student who sat in that class three years earlier doubting herself. I had become the articulate college student who had intimidated me so much in my first...
On living in a program house
Rose Wesche ’12
“I can’t wait to return to Asia House in the fall. I believe that program houses offer a concentrated version of Oberlin-- fellowship, community, and learning all packed together into single...
On writing and producing her own play
Maggie Keenan-Bolger ’06
“Without the tenacity and fearlessness of the staff at Oberlin, as well as the flexibility of creative exploration, From the Inside, Out would never have become a reality.”
On teammates becoming family
Galen Brennan ’17
“In our most important game of the year, I stepped on the field for only the second time that year, a moment that made me realize how important the team had become for me. ”
On moving to India after graduation
Anne Richmond ’83
“There is nothing like being immersed in another culture -- no longer being the majority -- to force one to recognize what profoundly cultural beings we really are.”
On an eye-opening class
Sarah Willette ’16
“I’ve found during my time at Oberlin that, when faced with the crossroads between easy ignorance and more strenuously acquired knowledge, most Obies choose the hard but ultimately more rewarding...