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 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
![Rob plays acoustic guitar at the Oberlin Farmers' Market.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/rob_jamner_17.jpg?itok=JoQ9Rk0R)
On founding Oberlin Songwriters
“In just a few weeks I met a number of students and community members who shared my passion for songwriting.”
Rob Jamner ’17
![Lillie performs a role on stage](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/lillie_chilen_08.jpg?itok=fJDXGgyG)
On playing Poppea
“It’s still hard to believe that as a lowly undergrad, I got the chance to play Poppea - opera’s earliest gold digger - and find the music that truly fits my voice.”
Lillie Chilen ’08
![House with many windows](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/lisa_amor_petrov_85.jpg?itok=vqqnfYT8)
On living in the Women’s Collective
“I was blessed by the intimacy that can come from searching, together with other women, for an understanding of what it means to be a feminist.”
Lisa Amor Petrov ’85
![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
![Sandy Waters](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sandy_waters_71.jpg?itok=YLaJVQB4)
On the Oberlin student body
“My Oberlin friends came from... all over the place. All races and all faiths, they had attended both public and private high schools... they were independent, intellectually curious, intelligent,...
Sandy Waters ’71
![Sitting on the Freedom House porch, which rests on cinder blocks, Matthew holds a rifle. Black and white photo circa late 1960's.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/matthew_rinaldi_69.jpg?itok=hi9SYFP-)
On working with the Oberlin Action for Civil Rights
“Oberlin played a major role in the student civil rights movement... Not just one person, but many people, linked arm and arm together, ended the reign of white supremacy in the Deep South.”
Matthew Rinaldi ’69
![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
![Members of the co-op pose holding bike parts.](https://www.oberlin.edu/sites/default/files/styles/story_350/public/content/story/image/sophie_newman_17.jpg?itok=SzH9UFaV)
On practicing problem solving
“It wasn’t until I joined the Oberlin Bike Co-op that I realized just how satisfying finding an answer can be.”
Sophie Newman ’17