By Manny Coates ’27
As an admissions fellow, it’s my job to convince you to come to Claremont—to illustrate the illustrious life made possible by choosing Pomona College. This campus—this community—stands out among other institutions for many reasons: its structure as a consortium, its academic prestige, its location, and more. The truth is, Claremont is a wonderful place to learn and grow at institutions dedicated to just that. Still, despite all of that, everyone needs a change of scenery—a break from the routine.
The great thing about attending the 5Cs is that during your time here, you’ll have the opportunity to meet some truly remarkable people (and travel guides). Just a few weeks ago, I shared that I was having a lot of mixed feelings about this summer: trying to figure out my path in life, my goals for the future, and how to balance what’s necessary with what personally fulfills me. Recently, it’s become my mission to visit as many of my friends as possible this summer—consider it a reward for staying in Claremont for over a year straight (yes, I mean summer and winter breaks).
This past weekend, I visited Washington, D.C., to visit a few of my friends from Pitzer and Claremont McKenna who now live and work in the city. My friends graciously hosted me for the weekend and took me on their personalized tours of the city: some days filled with walking through museums, monuments, and memorial sites, and others focused on the lived experience of my friends, highlighting their favorite hometown spots. Since my trip overlapped a bit with their work schedules, I also had some time to explore the city on my own and connect with some family friends. I got lunch with my friend’s dad, who had a lot of insight into the career path I intend to pursue—he gave me so much advice and, honestly, it motivated me.
As it turns out, my trip to D.C. was just as professional and academic as it was a break from professionalism and academia. I’m glad I got to see my friends and spend quality time with them. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to visit the people I love all over the country. Visiting them reminded me of how far-reaching the Claremont community is—from coast to coast, the relationships you build here are lasting and expansive.
If you think about it that way, no matter where life takes you, Claremont will always be a part of you. As I approach my last two years of school, that gives me comfort: knowing that even when we’re all far away from the 5Cs, we’ll always be connected.
