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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![Six people walk across a road in single file.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sylvia_woodmansee_15.jpg?itok=WCK5EnAA)
On coordinating alternative spring break trips
“I appreciate the drive of everyone in the IYS leader group and their willingness to continue reflecting and moving forward with our ideas and work. ”
Sylvia Woodmansee ’15
![Two people hold up the flag of Chile](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/nico_lara_18.jpg?itok=6B5gmAR5)
On finding community
“For me, La Casa has been an important touchstone with which to keep in contact with my Latino heritage and language--all too easy to lose sight of in the hustle and bustle of pursuing academics and...
Nico Lara ’18
![A group of friends with a shopping cart full of books](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/evan_cameron_15.jpg?itok=7AIl4mZK)
On being part of establishing SWAP, a book cooperative
“Several members of the class and I thought, “Wait a second. We’re doing all of this work to describe this co-op. Why don’t we make this idea a reality?””
Evan Cameron ’15
![With a snowy mountaintop in the background, Andy stands at a wood post marked with Japanese writing](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/andy_bartholomew_07.jpg?itok=B6gILAhn)
On biking across Japan
“From March 15th to June 10th, I cycled from Kyushu to Nagano. Nearly every day I flash back to some moment of my trip to Japan. I’ll hop on my bike, or see a train, and I’ll remember my first day...
Andy Bartholomew ’07
![Phoebe shows off a broken piñata.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/phoebe_hammer_14.jpg?itok=tAqzBhZO)
On unexpected birthday surprises
“In that chord, I felt the warmth of belonging—my voice lost in the blend of others around me.”
Phoebe Hammer ’14
![Two students with YB](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/kantara_souffrant_08.jpg?itok=uAf_61Xp)
On the Oberlin College Dialogue Center
“[we work] with the hopes of building an inclusive campus-climate and global community where individuals can interact with each other earnestly ... and live amongst each other with a sense of...
Kantara Souffrant ’08
![Hannah seated at an outdoor café](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/hannah_varadi_15.jpg?itok=YBa73xrA)
On a (failed) attempt at an individual major
“I now have a better grasp of how all my language-based interests—translation, journalism, and, yes, fiction writing—tie into comparative literature.”
Hannah Varadi ’15
![Avital by a sunny window](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/avital_isaacs_10.jpg?itok=Q-PcYWQ0)
On the spirit of Oberlin
“Oberlin draws the creative, the overstimulated, the passionate, and puts them together for four years to marinate.”
Avital Isaacs ’10
![Raquel Farah-Robison](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/raquel_farah_robison_11.jpg?itok=9Y1fvvsb)
On working with the America Reads program
“Witnessing both of my students’ growth and finding creative ways to nourish their newly found enthusiasm gave me a deep sense of fulfillment.”
Raquel Farah-Robison ’11
![Leanne with her daughter](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/leanne_wagner_76.jpg?itok=MKnd9j3H)
On progress toward gender equality
“Watching my daughter ... study with many more than one woman professor in the sciences, and not be constrained in her choices of what was to come after Oberlin, I realize that the Oberlin tradition...
Leanne Wagner ’76
![A pair of hands places the top on a jack-o-lantern](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jane_sandberg_10.jpg?itok=W1VQRd6M)
On facing fears
“Sometimes the best way to get over an issue is to throw yourself into the middle of it and figure out how to make it work for you. This was the story of my first year at Oberlin... Oberlin is a...
Jane Sandberg ’10
![A cockatiel is perched on Cassandra's finder](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/cassandra_dean_17.jpg?itok=aVUw-Zhi)
On becoming a good researcher
“I am now able to conduct research at a higher level than most people expect of an undergraduate student, and my ability to network and schedule have improved dramatically.”
Cassandra Dean ’17