Last weekend, I went to my first college reunion ever at Pomona College — and wow, it was a blur and so much fun. I spent more time traveling than I did at the reunion, but it was 100 percent worth it. I graduated from Pomona College in 2001 — I loved my experience from there — the academics, the campus, the faculty, and most of all, my friends. I have been incredibly fortunate that despite all of us living in different states, we are still very close friends. Truly, friends that I forget I know from college — they are just best friends.
Landed at 10 pm — dressed appropriately (Pomona College is in Claremont — which is a town 35 miles east of LA, but in LA county).
Once I woke up at the crack of dawn, I went on a lovely run all around campus. It was foggy (it burned off), but I went down memory lane and looked at all my dorms. This was my sophomore dorm. It had an entrance from the outside and we shared a courtyard with some of my guy friends.
Freshman dorm. I remember being SO scared my freshman year. Made some friends then, and felt more comfortable.
Junior year dorm! Up above — second floor. I loved this one so much.
As a science major, this was the academic dorm that I spent most of my time in. I didn’t go inside — that would have been a whole other level of memories.
Everything about Pomona College I loved. And it still smells the same — which instantly brought me back to 25 years ago. This is a hawk I saw on my run. I also saw many bunnies and other birds.
Best store name ever.
The five of us girls.
Bestie Em — the god mother of my daughter.
Besties Em and Midge. Underneath an Orozco mural. We ate every meal under it. It is wild — I loved the dining hall. I would spend hours there. It was my social place to be.
Laughed at this sign when we were walking around the village.
Besties Gigs and Midge were in charge of starting the composting program at Pomona. They were very proud of this (as they should be), so we had to go check it out — which now is a huge huge farm.
Vibe of the reunion.
Us and our new 6th member of the crew, Chris. He was a co-sponsor with Midge, but also married to one of the friends of many of us.
Cute photo, had to include.
Also cute photo, and had to put this in.
We asked freshmen to take this photo. They took about 12 bad ones, and this is the only mediocre good one. But I love it — because there are signs when you officially enter campus. Pomona’s campus is the most beautiful campus I have ever been on. More beautiful than Stanford, or any other school.
Dinner on Saturday night. Lots of laughs.
Beautiful night.
We got cold so had to go buy matching sweatshirts. And then I got stung by a bee and that was really fun.
Our final walk through campus at night.
Moral of story — if you have a reunion — go to it. I am so so so glad that at the last minute I went (bought my ticket two days before, didn’t have a hotel room (crashed, Thank you friends), didn’t register until day of). I loved seeing the place that contributed to so much of who I am. I am such a proud Pomona College Alumni and deeply feel connected to the place and my friends.
