By Emmanuel Coates ’27
Everyone will tell you they had the best time of their lives while studying abroad. Whether it’s a domestic program or an international one, at Pomona College it seems like just about everyone takes advantage of the opportunity. Hey, I even played around with the idea myself—there was a public policy program in Washington D.C. that had caught my eye. I even applied before ultimately deciding that I just wasn’t comfortable leaving campus for an entire semester.
There’s so much about Claremont that I love: the climate, the geography, the community. Need I say more? Claremont has proven to be the place for me, and the idea of leaving just didn’t make sense. Why would I leave this beautiful place to study somewhere else when I have everything I need right here? At least, that’s how I feel. And yes, I understand that some people have greater reasons for going abroad—and I get that—but for those who don’t, I’m here to tell you that staying on campus can be just as fulfilling.
Typically, students choose to study away because they want to see somewhere new and immerse themselves in another culture. I can get down with that—a little cultural immersion and whatnot. But traveling and living internationally just seemed too enervating for me. I’m an independent student, so when I think about going abroad, I also have to think about the support I would have and what I’d need to do beforehand to ensure my comfort and safety. And yes, I know independent students who are studying abroad and having the time of their lives, but for me, there was just too much to worry about. So instead, I stayed on campus, determined to make the most of the time I have here.
The best part about living in California is that it truly is the land of opportunity—you can find almost anything here. While I was excited about the idea of a public policy internship in Washington D.C., I quickly realized that similar opportunities exist right here. I landed an internship with the City of Claremont, gaining firsthand experience working with small-scale municipal government. Staying on campus also gave me time to network with professors—which I was able to do with ease. They connected me with a local law firm that offered me another internship, and now I’m assisting attorneys who work directly with California policy. In these small teams, my work has meaning—I’m not stuck answering phones or making slides to show what I’ve learned. Instead, I’m conducting real research for active cases. My work impacts California policy in tangible ways, and I’ve gained mentors who will continue to support me throughout my college journey.
Staying on campus has also given me the chance to grow while my friends are away, allowing me to build new relationships. It can feel lonely when most of your friends are spread across the globe partaking in new experiences, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find new communities. Exploring in solitude puts everything into perspective, helping you become a more authentic version of yourself. I found myself trying new hobbies like sewing and drawing, but I also was able to nurture some of my previous friendships in a way that I never really thought was possible. The isolation I felt in my friends’ absence motivated me to find new ones. It can be easy to follow the same path as everyone else—but it’s challenging to choose a different one. Staying on campus while most of my friends are abroad forced me to make the best of my situation, and in doing so, I think I’ve become a better person, and if not, I’ve definitely become more independent.