By Livia Mayfield ’28
When I think about my first two years at Pomona, the things that come to mind aren’t necessarily my classes or off-campus experiences. Somewhere between late-night study sessions, beach trips, shared suffering during ab workouts, and spontaneous trips to Taco Bell, I found a group of friends who make Pomona feel like home. They are the people I text whenever something funny happens, the ones who encourage me to be a better student, and the reason my college experience has been even better than I could have imagined.
Over the past two years, each of my closest friends has taught me something different, and together, they have helped shape me into the person I am becoming today.
From Kate, I have learned the ultimate girlhood friendship. From kicking our feet and sharing first-date stories, to having sleepovers every night (we’re roommates), to her curling my hair while we watch Black Mirror, and even running a half marathon together, Kate and I will be inseparable for the rest of our lives. She has taught me what it means to be truly loved and valued as my most authentic self, something everyone here at Pomona values.
With Alex, I have learned how to laugh. Obviously not in the literal sense, but how to find happiness and community when things feel hard. I have learned how to laugh at myself, laugh with tears in my eyes while standing in line for poke at the Hoch, and find humor even on the days when you feel more like crying. With Alex, I have learned to smile and push through hard times–when elections don’t go your way, or when it feels hard to wake up and go to class the next morning.
Lily has taught me to work hard and play hard. She has ripped my comforter off of me and forced me to do homework with her, but she has also begged me to take my Zoom class at the pool with her so we could tan and hang out. She is one of my biggest inspirations, writing her essays weeks in advance because she wants to go to the beach with visiting friends or go on ten-mile hikes at 6 a.m. Lily is half of the reason I have explored Los Angeles, and she knows where we can find the best free food on campus at any given moment (there is always something).
From Nora, I have learned to try new things–to experimenting with new nail polish colors, eating a California burrito for the first time, and even getting a spontaneous tattoo! She encourages me to adventure, and is always down for a midnight Taco Bell run on a school night. Nora has a way of making every experience exciting, even if we’re just hiking up to Claremont McKenna to study in their new science building.
Sarah has taught me passion. Passion for family, passion for work, passion for exploring cuisines in Los Angeles or scheduling roomie dinners via Outlook. She has encouraged me to make the most of my time at Pomona–whether I’m panicking about how quickly it’s going by or feeling overwhelmed by homework. She invests deeply in the people around her, making time for thoughtful conversations, check-ins, and full-out celebrations, no matter how busy life gets.
With Lianna, I have learned the power of vulnerability. Some of my favorite memories with her are long walks around campus and through the Village where we somehow end up talking about everything. We also love to curl up in bed together and beat a dead horse, turning a five-minute story into a two-hour conversation. She has taught me that meaningful friendships are built through honesty, through asking hard questions, sharing fears, and trusting someone enough to let them see the less polished parts of you.
Georgia has encouraged me to embrace the things I love. Whether that means starting a two-person book club for the Throne of Glass series, always listening to me talk about my romance novels, or staying up late on a school night to learn euchre (the best card game ever), Georgia has become one of my favorite conversationalists. She is an active listener, letting mepractice presentations for classes and asking thoughtful questions. Through her friendship, I’ve learned that the things we love are often what connect us most deeply to other people.
Finally, from Anya, I have learned to wake up excited. She is ready to take on each day with a smile on her face and something to look forward to, and her energy is infectious (even when physics tests are looming). Whether we’re spending a weekend at her home or just grabbing lunch between classes, she has a way of making ordinary moments feel special. Because of her, I have become better at slowing down, appreciating where I am, and making the most of the time I have here. (She’s also largely responsible for teaching me that weekends can start before 2:00 p.m.)
As you can tell, I am incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful community at Pomona. We came together in all different ways–through orientation week adventures, shared classes, and afternoons spent sitting on the quad eating snacks from Iowa (shoutout Lily). When I arrived at Pomona, I expected college to challenge me academically. What I didn’t expect was how much my friends would shape who I am becoming. Through their encouragement, honesty, humor, spontaneity, passion, and care, they have taught me lessons that extend far beyond the classroom. Looking back on my first two years, I realize that some of the most meaningful lessons I have learned at Pomona did not come from a classroom–they came from the people who have grown alongside me. And I have a feeling those lessons, and those friendships, will stay with me long after graduation.