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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![Students with President Krislov show off creates full of lightbullbs](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/kristin_braziunas_08.jpg?itok=VmfFqcDS)
On coordinating the Light Bulb Brigade
“Ten months, 10,000 light bulbs, and one bachelor’s degree later... this is something that for me has come to define Oberlin.”
Kristin Braziunas ’08
![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
![Women in colorful skirts dance in the quad.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/rose_wesche_12.jpg?itok=CYthzri0)
On living in a program house
“I can’t wait to return to Asia House in the fall. I believe that program houses offer a concentrated version of Oberlin-- fellowship, community, and learning all packed together into single...
Rose Wesche ’12
![Group of students, several holding signs that say Vote 2010](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/lyz_glickman_13.jpg?itok=vUxL9iwE)
On OC Dems
“it is a collaborative organization that seeks to educate students and community members and promote political action, no matter which side of the aisle a person happens to fall in.”
Lyz Glickman ’13
![Three people, one wearing a lab coat](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/hidong_kim_87.jpg?itok=sbpaCljh)
On being a life-long learner
“The same crackling energy I felt at Oberlin when immersing myself in new learning I now feel in medical school... Once again, the academic rigor I acquired at Oberlin lights my path.”
Hidong Kim ’87
![Becca at the shore](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/becca_orleans_16.jpg?itok=kN82n37_)
On combining interests in creative writing and environmental studies
“In providing a text that shares experiences of running and strength in running, I hope that this collection helps women feel more empowered to openly move throughout the environment.”
Becca Orleans ’16
![Sarah relaxes in a 'womb chair.'](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sarah_minion_17.jpg?itok=1s5KMgHi)
On the haven that is a college library
“Since that fateful phone call during my first year it has become second nature to, when in doubt, go to Mudd.”
Sarah Minion ’17
![Megan's elegant dessert has a lit candle at the center.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/megan_cox_18.jpg?itok=Q0TWZWx4)
On a poignant winter term project
“The lessons I learned and the experiences I added to my cache in life have yet to fully reveal their meaning to me; I know, however, that these lessons will continue to guide me throughout the rest...
Megan Cox ’18
![Young man in a crowd wearing a boutonnière on his suit jacket](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jaremy_rich_07.jpg?itok=OEL0bAfV)
On defining Oberlin
“There are thousands of attributes, numbers and statistics that you could chime off that make Oberlin marginally better or worse than any given institution...what the Princeton Review or the US News...
Jaremy Rich ’07
![A woman plays a pipe organ](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/catherine_oertel_99.jpg?itok=YMaVoTsu)
On teaching at Oberlin
“I have initiated new synthetically-oriented research projects in my laboratory here, but I have also continued my work on organ pipe corrosion with students who have been attracted by research that...
Catherine Oertel ’99
![Steve holds a camera.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/steve_bagley_06.jpg?itok=nXjGtcrS)
On implementing Oberlin ideals
“As a reporter, I have the power to actually change the world. I can uncover corruption and expose it. I can discover things and show them to people, change the world by spreading knowledge.”
Steve Bagley ’06