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 the way we treat writing at Oberlin
Judy Karasik ’75
“I was so deeply engaged and tangled up in writing as a living, morphing entity, that when I got to graduate school I couldn’t tolerate the aridness of what passed there at the time for intellectual...
On getting to New Orleans
Cria Kay ’16
“Navigating time commitments and cost restraints, I was surprised by how many opportunities appeared in front of me.”
On keeping a dream alive
Zoe Beach ’17
“While I chose Oberlin for the strength and opportunities of its science programs, I was overjoyed to find that Oberlin not only had a circus, but it had the facilities and equipment for aerial work.”
On an Oberlin education
Prof. Sebastiaan Faber
“One of the most important things you will learn here is to express yourself, to engage in dialogue, to respect others’ ideas, and to allow them to change your own. ”
On the integration of classics in her life
Lauren Clark ’11
“I’ve found beauty and strength in recognizing temporality, which has brought me to understand translation across language and temporal boundaries as a positive and connective process.”
On solidifying cross-generational friendships
Eleanor Van Buren ’17
“From the first reply I received from Francine Schutzman ’67, I knew we were on to something.”
On founding Violin for Vasculitis
Allison Lint ’09
“I am more often labeled an “activist” than a “touring violin virtuoso,” [but] that doesn’t alter my goal. I am musically fulfilled through this project more than I ever could be as a healthy...
On being a Bonner Scholar
Rocio Leon ’13
“Even though I am naturally shy and quiet, all the laughs, cheesy moments, and of course, all the Bonner Love... made me more comfortable to be myself and increased my confidence.”
On exploring the radically shifting publishing world
Mack Gelber ’10
“This is the chief thrill of interning at a literary agency. You never know if the next manuscript in the stack is going to be a dud or the potential classic of our time.”
On joining the Oberlin Christian Fellowship
Gabriel Moore ’15
“People within this community — or family rather — had strong desires for social justice and impact, and wanted to bring all of their friends on campus into this family, including me.”
On embracing writing
Anna Zeemont ’13
“Oberlin revolutionized the way I think about writing - which in turn shaped me not just as a learner but also as an individual.”
On her semester in Ghana
Sarah Frank ’09
“Sankofa means “return to your roots.” Sankofa is an important concept, because in order to grow, you cannot always move forward. You must go backwards, and go home, in order to make the distance...