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.
Add your story
![Group of students in a dining hall](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/liam_oznowich_17.jpg?itok=L7rz6q8s)
On finding his voice in a creative writing class
“Never before have I felt that excited about a story I was telling, which became all the more empowering when I realized this story was also my life.”
Liam Oznowich ’17
![Holland holds a young boy in her arms](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/holland_hamilton_11.jpg?itok=VHYlpVrP)
On the “best kept secret in the Midwest”
“Before coming to Oberlin, I had sworn off theater completely. In fact, I was done with performing in general. But looking back, I have no clue how I thought I could have gotten away with choosing...
Holland Hamilton ’11
![Sammy and friends play a boardgame.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sammy_moores_17.jpg?itok=GAkNsTar)
On finding a home on SciFi Hall
“Like many incoming first-years, the thought of having a roommate and finding a solid group of friends was extremely daunting.”
Sammy Moores ’17
![Ben reading at a library table](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/ben_klebanoff_09.jpg?itok=ukh3K-DN)
On Oberlin’s Student Senate
“Students take active roles in all levels of the Oberlin administration, help determine the courses that are available for students to take, and help make hiring decisions.”
Ben Klebanoff ’09
![Matt works at a food slicing machine.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/matt_oconnell_09.jpg?itok=xT5T6ElT)
On a special meal at his co-op
“For me, this meal was exactly what Oberlin’s co-ops are all about: making food with your friends, and knowing exactly where your meal came from.”
Matt O'Connell ’09
![Group of dancers in a dance studio](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jennifer_jimenez_17.jpg?itok=7o4lTguo)
On joining Latin dance group Movimiento
“Walking into rehearsal every Thursday and Sunday night, I am greeted with hugs and kisses and an energy that is as vibrant as the salsas and merengues we dance to.”
Jennifer Jimenez ’17
![Young woman seated by an organ keyboard](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/jenny_bower_13.jpg?itok=Iyg93kr1)
On learning to cook in a co-op
“But in a co-op, plan incorrectly and you could be swimming in pinto beans, have enough lasagna to cover a mummy, pop enough popcorn to fill a bathtub - or not prepare enough vegetables to feed a...
Jenny Bower ’13
![Ballrooom dance rehearsal in a gymnasium.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sophia_bamert_13.jpg?itok=y5UNHPxC)
On becoming herself
“Oberlin gave me the push that I needed to pursue my goals, to see myself as an actor in the world rather than a mere collector of personae.”
Sophia Bamert ’13
![Charles performs with a computer and bright lights](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/charles_abbott_14.jpg?itok=rd0C7hNs)
On Oberlin’s inclusive music scene
“Collaboration plays a fundamental role in the community’s constant appetite for great art. This inclusivity is indicative of the communal Oberlin personality that makes it such an incredible place.”
Charles Abbott ’14
![With a waterfall in the background, Miranda stands by an informational sign headlined Healthy Habitat.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/miranda_fisher_12.jpg?itok=dcR3uB_V)
On an interdisciplinary education
“Learning isn’t just about memorizing static content for a specific class; it’s about shattering the boundaries of a subject and seeing how you can apply its content in different contexts.”
Miranda Fisher ’12
![A row of bassoonists performs under a banner with Chinese characters](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/joycelyn_eby_09.jpg?itok=nNn1omTE)
On organizing a Bassoon Quartet tour of China
“As someone who was reluctant to go to college “in the middle of a bunch of cornfields,” I now can’t imagine having gone anywhere else for school ... no other institution would be so supportive of my...
Joycelyn Eby ’09
![Teresa Heinz Housel](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/teresa_heinz_housel_94.jpg?itok=jjFyiVTX)
On being at Oberlin
“I could safely question the cultural values that had been drilled into me as the truth, and with that security, I could intellectually and emotionally reach my full potential. ”
Teresa Heinz Housel ’94