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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![Stewart's Oberlin College ID card, expiration date June 1974. Stewart has very long hair.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/stewart_kohl_77.jpg?itok=MTxF-32n)
On the ethos of Oberlin
“What made Oberlin outstanding then is still its magic - the students who want to learn, the faculty who want to teach, and the intense tradition of intellectual curiosity.”
Stewart Kohl ’77
![Three runners round the bend on an indoor track](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/john_shaw_07.jpg?itok=lp7PYsRd)
On training
“With the curtain obscuring most of the fieldhouse from view, the track became a tunnel that my distance mates and I would fly around countless times at every imaginable speed and level of (dis)...
John Shaw ’07
![Nathan Heidelberger and Helmut Lachenmann](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/nathan_heidelberger_10.jpg?itok=1eODHj9x)
On working with composer Helmut Lachenmann
“Working with him was an opportunity of a lifetime, and I don’t think it could have happened anywhere else, at least not for a non-pianist like me.”
Nathan Heidelberger ’10
![Christopher with 2 men, all wearing suits](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/christopher_sanders_08.jpg?itok=4KP5kV-b)
On the lifelong connection to Oberlin’s values
“Oberlin instills in each student a dedication to improving the lives of others... I continue to incorporate my four years of experiences into my everyday life while working in the U.S. House of...
Christopher Sanders ’08
![People at a party with streamers and balloons.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/vicky_costikyan_14.jpg?itok=DJjt5dTP)
On the community of Sci-Fi Hall
“I felt at home with the people around me, and I developed a confidence in myself that I had never experienced before.”
Vicky Costikyan ’14
![Paulena holds a clipboard next to an educational poster.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/paulena_papagiannis_12.jpg?itok=urr46jVY)
On volunteering at Oberlin
“Through a bevy of volunteer opportunities, the Murray Ridge - Oberlin College Alliance has re-established a vital outlet for Oberlin students to connect with some very special members of our...
Paulena Papagiannis ’12
![David sits in a recycling bin on the steps of the Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/david_fisher_12.jpg?itok=mHDAD6od)
On his work at the Bonner Center for Community-Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Research
“Working for eco-social transformation in Oberlin is endowing me with a far deeper understanding of many things, including how to write a grant proposal, build a project vision, and seek to change...
David Fisher ’12
![Field hockey team photo](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/aditi_banerjee_17.jpg?itok=VEnYrJaL)
On finding friends on the field hockey team
“A camaraderie developed—probably born out of undergoing the rigors of preseason together—which blossomed into close friendships over the course of the season.”
Aditi Banerjee ’17
![With only sand visible to the horizon, three people jump off a dune.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/rachel_colwell_10.jpg?itok=yY700czF)
On spending a semester in Tunis
“Intrepid or crazy, there I was, jumping off the deep end, learning to swim, learning about other people and about how to be myself in a new place.”
Rachel Colwell ’10
![Emma takes a selfie with two calves on a winter day](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/emma_marshall_18.jpg?itok=YWAQ5BYn)
On the freedom of a month of independent study
“Winter term at Oberlin has taught me to follow my instinct. Winter term isn’t about finding a perfect project that will make your life story more exciting; it’s about finding yourself in a project.”
Emma Marshall ’18
![Wering a shirt that reads 'I will create the next [blank space]', Lauren tinkers with a device](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/lauren_wong_16.jpg?itok=-DTKmt1B)
On joining Women in Math and Computer Science
“I found friends, a support system, connections, and something I was willing to speak up about, which is what I think Oberlin is all about.”
Lauren Wong ’16
![American students with a Japanese family](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/amy_hourcade_15.jpg?itok=_voBu6Fz)
On her winter term in Tokyo
“I was thrust out of my comfort zone, thanks to Oberlin, and have never been happier.”
Amy Hourcade ’15