Oberlin Stories Project
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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![A quarterback releases the ball toward a receiver](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/greg_mangan_09.jpg?itok=8DFHy9wx)
On his roommate, Mike Loll, during their first pre-season
“He knew all the plays. He knew where to be at all times. He moved effortlessly through the logjam of the field. He was a natural.”
Greg Mangan ’09
![Young man in sunglasses](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/louis_grube_09.jpg?itok=xf8cpEU8)
On the culture of Oberlin
“We carry ourselves with an air of courtesy and responsibility to others that shows itself daily in both our smallest actions and in our viewpoints about the way the world should be.”
Louis Grube ’09
![Group of students stand together](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/arjuna_pettit_14.jpg?itok=8f_CI2Fx)
On pushing boundaries
“I still remember the sense of accomplishment that I felt after completing the final exam for Bio 100. I had conquered the beast.”
Arjuna Pettit ’14
![Sarah and friends.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sarah_cheshire_14.jpg?itok=j0S8EWmq)
On learning from peers
“My education at Oberlin has occurred not only in the classroom, but through living and constantly engaging with so many different people from so many different life contexts.”
Sarah Cheshire ’14
![Group of people standing together, smiling](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jacob_lamoureux_12.jpg?itok=NEk8ovNx)
On Oberlin’s terrific teachers
“When I graduated from high school, I thought the days of personal relationships with teachers who cared about me were over. Well, I’ve only been wrong once in the past 20 years, and that was it.”
Jacob Lamoureux ’12
![Maurice leads a rehearsal.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/maurice_cohn_17.jpg?itok=BYk82duB)
On conducting a youth orchestra
“Music is a living art, not to be kept in the glass cases of history museums...I can help foster that kind of energy and excitement about performing in another generation of musicians.”
Maurice Cohn ’17
![Brenna in front of a rose bush](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/brenna_larson_14.jpg?itok=i0m2LGpA)
On choosing an Oberlin path
“My Oberlin career, like many, has been far from linear, and I am glad that I have strayed from my plan. A planner at heart, changing gears, changing life goals, was a rocky and emotional process,...
Brenna Larson ’14
![A trio plays music in the children's section of the public library.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sophie_schacht_10.jpg?itok=N4VCAxEh)
On organizing Dr. Seuss Day at the local public library
“I am one of six people on the varsity softball team who tutors in the Oberlin public schools -- my first order of business was to recruit the entire team.”
Sophie Schacht ’10
![Jocie and a friend find a balloon by a wall of post office boxes](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jocie_sobieraj_15.jpg?itok=JJIhuogh)
On birthday celebrations
“Had my roommate known that I had secretly always wanted to do a scavenger hunt for my birthday ever since my older sister had one when I was 8? Probably not.”
Jocie Sobieraj ’15
![Five performers together on stage.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/molly_gorin_16.jpg?itok=3ODDnxFE)
On merging dance lives
“I never thought I would be able to put a rapper dance side by side with a contemporary duet, but here I am today.”
Molly Gorin ’16
![Three friends with silly grins](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/christopher_ayoub_15.jpg?itok=u4cUUqzN)
On making new friends
“Our relationship began with laughter and silliness, and Kelin has been my dorky big sister away from home ever since.”
Christopher Ayoub ’15
![Tim at graduation.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/tim_russell_92.jpg?itok=MDxrz2Ev)
On acceptance at Oberlin
“Oberlin opened a world to me that I never knew existed ... It represented the diversity that the world has to offer, not just race and ethnicity, but religion and sexual orientation, in a safe and...
Tim Russell ’92