A Week in My Life

I know that writing about a week in my life at Oberlin isn’t the most original blog idea I’ve ever had, but I still figured I’d write it since I think that getting an idea of student life, and most importantly how you could fit into student life on a campus, is one of the most important factors when choosing a college. 

When I first got onto campus I thought that during college I would have all the free time in the world. Gone were the days of my eight-hour school days jam-packed with seven classes. It’s almost laughable thinking back to when I used to think that only having four classes would mean I would have free time. As I’m sure you know, college is hard work. Oberlin is an academically rigorous and rewarding environment which is one of the reasons I chose to come here. However, although you will probably spend a good chunk of your time studying and doing homework, there is also a pretty big chunk of your time that you can devote to other things. When I’m not studying there are a plethora of things to do: concerts, eating out with friends, attending guest lectures, going on walks, reading, watching shows with friends, cooking, and more. Don’t worry, though, I’ll also highlight some of the ways I make studying fun, and the best places on Oberlin's campus to grind out some work. 

Monday

On Monday I have class from 8:30 am to noon. On Mondays the Rathskeller, which is a mobile ordering food spot on campus, serves breakfast all day, so my friends and I have a weekly tradition of grabbing a breakfast for lunch. After lunch this particular week I gave a tour of campus before heading into town to Blue Rooster Bakehouse where my roommate and I studied for a few hours. This is probably my favorite spot to study off campus, and I try to hit it at least once a week if my budget allows it. I love sitting there enjoying a pastry and an iced latte while I work, enjoying the scents of new baked goods coming from the kitchen. 

After studying, my roommate and I were ready to head back to our dorm, but since it was a beautiful fall day out we decided to take the long way back. Of course, Oberlin being Oberlin we came across a small folk band in Tappan Square that we stopped to listen to. To end our day we made mac and cheese in the kitchen and watched Downton Abbey. A perfect way to start the week, if you ask me.

Tuesday

Somehow I ended up not having any classes on Tuesday, which makes it my favorite day of the week! To start off my morning I grabbed a pumpkin muffin from Decafe, which I highly recommend. It was a grab and go kind of morning because right after that I headed to Cleveland Clinic Hospital where I interviewed to be a volunteer. Not only is Oberlin close to a lot of great volunteer opportunities, but they also help facilitate them for students as well as get the word out about local opportunities. 

After interviewing (I got the ‘job’!) I headed back to campus where I went to the library to study. Similar to other colleges, our main library operates on a system where it gets quieter the more floors you go up. I’m a pretty loud person so I tend to stick to the first two floors. 

Later on in the day I attended my professor's office hours as well as going to my weekly tutoring session with my peer tutor. At Oberlin peer tutors are completely free to students, courtesy of the Academic Advising Resource Center. I’ve found these tutors to be invaluable to my learning, and I highly recommend checking them out! 

Wednesday

Before my early class I headed to Azariah's Cafe where I got a pumpkin spice chai latte. This is a dining location on campus that is often overlooked during campus visits, so I just want to take a moment to highlight it! Iced drinks in the summer, hot drinks in the winter, and avocado toast year round have been my saviors. Plus, using baked goods and drinks as a studying motivator is always a great idea. 

To end my day I got my favorite grilled cheese from the late night dinner option at the Rathskeller. Basically late night dinner is a “Fourth Meal” that Rathskeller offers nightly from 8-11pm. My friends and I are obsessed with these grilled cheeses and will plan our eating schedule just around getting one at night. 

Thursday

Today I got up early and went to Chemistry office hours. At Oberlin all professors have office hours, and every single professor I’ve had has actively encouraged students to attend them. You can ask for clarification, work on homework, or in some cases, watch Iron Chef with professors. They are just happy to see you, they don’t really care if you have something specific in mind to discuss with them or not!

Another highlight of my Thursday was setting up my mini projector in my dorm room. I love personalizing my space and am always adding new decorations. Another fun option at Oberlin is the free store in the basement of Asia House where you can donate or pick up some fun decorations for your dorm.

Friday

Today was filled with primarily classes and studying. But the second I was done with my last class my friend and I headed straight to Umami where we grabbed some mapo tofu and sushi in order to make a Friday night feast. While usually I go out to a performance or hang with friends on Friday, this week I was feeling pretty tired so my friend and I just watched a tv show (on my new projector) before crashing for the night. 

Well, that’s my week! Although it’s not my most thrilling week ever, I still wanted to share it so you can get a sense of how I use the many resources and opportunities at and around Oberlin in just a simple ordinary week.