By Paola Franco ’17, Associate Dean of Admissions & Transfer Coordinator
Working at my alma mater is an honor, though I never expected to be here. When I applied to Pomona, I had my eyes set on the Pre-Engineering and Environmental Analysis programs. Yet in 2017, I graduated with a degree in Spanish—not exactly the same thing. Since then, I’ve been able to deduce the seemingly 180-degree turn is a result of the flexibility of a liberal arts education, the power of intimate relationships and an unexpected quality (beyond our beloved Valued Qualities) that I believe helps students thrive here: a sense of adventure.
Like many admissions officers, my career in the field began as a student worker. My first position was as a “wintern”—a winter break intern. I took that first wintern job on a whim, following the recommendation of my sponsor, Pamela.
Shortly after, in my role as co-president of the IDEAS (Improving Dreams, Equality, Access and Success), the immigrant advocacy club on campus, I connected with Michelle Gonzalez, now Associate Dean and Director of Special Projects, to develop a website outlining the College’s admissions policies for undocumented students. Inspired by the passion I saw the admissions team dedicate to bringing in my fellow Sagehens, I wanted to learn more and returned the next year as a tour guide and as a senior interviewer the next.
A little over a year after graduation, I returned to the office to work alongside the very people I had looked up to.
As my interest in admissions grew, my love for STEM began to wane. As a first-generation college student from a low-income community, I grew up with a narrow definition of success: engineering, medicine and, on occasion, law. I also carried the weight of my immigrant family’s dreams on my shoulders. I felt all of this acutely as I grew disinterested in my physics classes… and surprisingly, curious about my Spanish ones.
While it was difficult to pivot from my STEM aspirations, and even more difficult to explain to my family that, no, I wasn’t going to be a Spanish teacher, and that this was, in fact, no different than students who major in English, I was empowered by two faculty members: Professor Tomás Summers-Sandoval and Professor Paul Cahill, who later became my advisor. They encouraged me to take the reins of my education and redefine success for myself.
And look at me now.
My family is proud of me. I’m proud of myself. I’m proud I was willing to take a risk, to go on an adventure. I hope my story can inspire students to remain flexible and nimble, to keep an open mind to all the possibilities.
If you’re willing to say yes to a few things—from a class that sounds unexpectedly interesting to going on Ski-Beach Day and seeing snow for the first time, like I did—this place can broaden your horizons, expose you to new experiences, and help you discover your true passions and interests. Remember, students: we don’t hold you to the academic interest(s) you select on your application. So, as you embark on your college journey, I invite you to ask yourself one question every once in a while: What else is out there?
