One of my favorite things about Oberlin is that I’m constantly surrounded by some of the most talented young individuals in the country.
It’s so wonderful to have friends at Oberlin who are REALLY talented at a particular art or sport. If not an art or sport, those friends may be phenomenal at chemistry or economics. Either way, it is entirely likely that the people you hang around at Oberlin are gifted at something. That can be both a blessing and a curse, as this may put pressure on you to be better at your own particular craft. I personally see this as inspiring, because it’s motivational to know that the people I see on a daily basis are doing great things. If they can be great, why can’t I?
The collective talent here is out of this world, but it’s the HARD WORK that inspires me the most. Obies have a work ethic that is unrivaled.
If you’re going to be a part of Oberlin College, it is essential to know that you’re going to have to work. Sometimes, you’re going to have to stay up later than normal to study for that test or finish that long paper. It is expected of us to work hard, because Obies have that reputation. It’s a reputation that has been around long before me. I believe that has a lot to do with the fact that Oberlin is extremely selective. The admissions office picks the BEST of the best to be a part of this great school. Because of that, the students that go here have to be extraordinary. If you even have the opportunity to go to Oberlin College, it is because you are an extraordinary person. Also, your intellect would have to be somewhat high to go here. That doesn’t mean that those who were rejected from Oberlin were less than that. There are many smart people who have been rejected from Oberlin before. This fact just displays how special you have to be to become an Obie.
This school prides itself on molding the individual into a world-changing person. Its students are potential WORLD CHANGERS in the eyes of its administration. That’s mind boggling to me.
The people at this school have to be different than most. Their collective mindsets may not be the same, but the intellect is definitely there. The conversations I’ve had here have been some of the deepest, most thought-provoking dialogues I had ever been through. I can tell you from personal experience alone. The people here are SMART. Many of them aren’t even just book smart. Some of them have great wisdom, and that’s incredible to me. That wisdom comes from the experiences they have been through. And that leads me to my next point...
The different perspectives you see on this campus are truly amazing to learn and grow from.
The diversity on this campus is definitely noticeable when you walk around campus. It’s easy to tell that there are students from all over the world who go to Oberlin. I’ll say this: Get used to the word “different.” The perspectives and ideas that you will run into will be more different than you could ever imagine. There are so many ideas that come from so many places that you will learn something new from somebody almost every day. It’s actually amazing to experience this. There are life stories you will have the privilege of seeing before your own two eyes. Witness those stories for what they are and appreciate them, because you can better yourself as a person by watching how others live their lives in positive ways.
Oberlin is truly one of the most talented and diverse environments I have ever been a part of, and it’s easy for me to say that this place has made me better because of that fact.
The people I have come across here have been real treasures to me as both resources and as friends. People are extremely valuable resources, especially on a college campus. This is because the talents and gifts that these people have may apply to your own, which forms a connection. These connections can last for a lifetime, so it’s important to showcase your talents when the time is right. That way, you can have people who have been in your position that can help you get where you want to go in life. This applies to connecting with both fellow students and alumni. You don’t even have to gain those connections through Oberlin College. While it may (and should) be in your best interest to make connections with people who went to Oberlin, it’s important to make connections outside of the college. This is so that you can display the talents that you’ve worked on at Oberlin and apply them to real life situations outside of school. This includes internships, jobs, and other opportunities that may be provided for you. As somebody who is interested in Oberlin, it’s important for you to have enough confidence to show the world what you can do, because that is what Obies try to do every single day. “Think one person can change the world? So do we.” Why do you think that is such a common phrase here at this school? The answer is simple. It’s because it’s in the culture of Oberlin to have a talent and showcase it to everybody. After all, we are pretty special. *Winks*
