Coming to Oberlin you’ll soon hear the name “Kendal” thrown around, maybe seeing it on the side of a bus, hearing of someone from there, or notice an event is in association with them. Kendal at Oberlin is a retirement community just outside of campus, and it is a touchstone of the greater Oberlin community. Many residents at Kendal have connections to the college or join for events and activities. I’m a part of the cohort of Oberlin students who work at Kendal and get to call it their second home. Kendal has a wonderful expanse of people that I have gotten to know, and the community has become a vibrant facet of my life at Oberlin.
At Kendal, I work in their dining halls and see a vast amount of the residents on a daily basis. This presents a fantastic opportunity to meet the many different personalities, charms, and faces of them all. Before getting this job, I’d heard a bit about Kendal and knew a few residents as acquaintances from Musical Union. This is one of my favorite things about my choir, that it's a group open to not just students but to all people of Oberlin. I’d never really gotten to know these people, though. I love that now I get to see them regularly, both at my job and in my favorite extracurricular activity. When putting together Omar, there was lots of communal excitement, as many residents were excited to see the show, or participate in the show! Events like this bring the entire community together in a joyous way that helps you remember Oberlin is more than just a college.
One of the defining features of Oberlin is how inclusive it is to everyone. It’s not like big colleges with cliquey Greek life, but one that invites friendship between people of all identities, backgrounds, and ages. When thinking about your college life, it’s typical to imagine being surrounded by people of your age group, which can be a terrific thing, but it is also lovely to meet people of all different generations, especially as a young person. I’ve had some wonderful conversations with Kendal residents about similar interests in film, travel, and of course, singing. Moreover, the people of Kendal are some of the kindest and most amiable people I have ever met. Hearing the stories of elders is inspiring, exciting, and especially comforting as you step into the uncertainties of the future. Seeing older people live so happily and fulfilled makes you feel like somehow your chaotic young adult life is gonna sort itself out.
I love meeting people different from me because you always find there are more similarities than differences. When I went to Vietnam, it was incredible to meet people of an entirely separate culture, who lived halfway across the world from me, yet we liked the same music, could laugh over the same memes, and could enjoy drinks by the fireside together, even despite the language barrier. Despite common stereotypes, the same goes for people of different generations. We enjoy the same music and activities, have similar passions, and above all have a shared connection in Oberlin. If you want to expand your college life at Oberlin, Kendal is the perfect opportunity to make friends outside of your age group, find extracurricular activities, and even acquire help for your projects and school work! The residents have a multitude of interests and expertise; as a Cinema and Media major, I see many film students go to Kendal for interviewees and actors. Their presence in student films and willingness to share their stories and skills is just one of the many ways they enrich the Oberlin community. I’m very grateful to have found a job that strengthens my college life and my sense of community as I study and live here.
