By Georgia King ’28
I moved all the way across the country for college and as excited as I was for the next chapter of my life in SoCal, the one worry at the back of my mind was friendships and where I would find them. No one from my school had even heard of Pomona and I was one of two graduates heading to the West Coast. Given that my best friends and family would all be staying on the East Coast, I had some hesitation.
But before I knew it, the community here had become my own—I found my place. It’s not a perfect or easy process, it’s difficult to find all your “people” freshman year, but if you stay true to yourself and your interests, the right people will find their way into your life.
The secret is simple: put yourself out there and explore.
On move in day, I attended a boba social just outside a neighboring dorm. My roommate, being a social butterfly, racked up connections, but I was slightly shyer. When we got separated during the event I contemplated going back to my dorm, but I didn’t. I ended up striking up a conversation with Alex—who happened to be from D.C., just 20 minutes from my home in Maryland. As we roamed around the event together we eventually bumped into Lianna. Little did Alex and I know, our brief conversation with her that night would be the basis of a lunch together two weeks in the future. Alex and Lianna are now two of my closest friends.
If clubs are more your speed than campus events, the opportunities for connection through those are just as numerous. I’m so grateful to be part of two great clubs here in Claremont, in both academic and athletic settings. Mock Trial has been one such addition to my schedule. Tight-knit-team is truly the best way to describe the dynamic of PCMT and I’ve enjoyed not only our trials, but our late night bonding, regular outings, and overall uplifting culture. The people I’ve met in Mock Trial have been incredibly supportive of all of my endeavors, including my second team involvement with the Triathlon Club. The triathlon team has quickly become my favorite athletic outlet and a great way to meet and compete with similarly inclined athletes across all of the Claremont Consortium—in fact, Alex and I recently completed a triathlon together in March!
The best path to meeting people is ultimately your choice. The school provides all sorts of opportunities for connection whether that be day time activities, campus traditions, sports, classes, or clubs. All you have to do is participate!
