Before you get to Swarthmore, they tell you there will be trees. But the mass of variety and beauty is only captured once you step on campus. Swarthmore is located on an arboretum (The Scott Arboretum), comprising a very well-kept array of trees and bush species and a 200-acre forest. To put things into perspective, they have college tours for prospective students and plant tours where people come to get a tour of the college's plants.
What I also did not realize before I got there is that just as easy as it is to walk 10 minutes and be in the middle of the forest with a creek living into the most picture-perfect fall foliage, you can walk 10 minutes in the other direction hop on a train with the free train card they give you and get to Philadelphia in 20 minutes. I grew up in Northern California, so this was my first introduction to seasons, the East Coast Nature, opportunities of some of the major metropolises of America.
My classes were not set in stone till I got on campus. Learning about the opportunities of Swarthmore's natural campus and access to the city, I knew I wanted my classes to take full advantage of that –– maximize the place of the East Coast. I like to think Swarthmore's campus is interdisciplinary because you are literally in the woods but can access the city. My class schedule was similarly interdisciplinary:
- Foundations of Chemistry
- Cell Biology
- History and Types of Theatre
- Acting and Voice
My science classes maximized nature. The professors centered the curriculum around the surrounding nature. I learned about cell pathways from Planaria worms found in Crum Wood's Creek (the school's creek), and I learned how color and chemistry connect through learning about the colors of the campus's fall foliage.
I chose my art classes based on the fact that they would immerse me in the historical and present-day culture in Philadelphia. Since my classes brought me on field trips, I had seen over ten performances by the end of the semester: ranging from Philadelphia's professional theater companies to Ragel Zegler on Broadway to student-directed productions. Taking it a step further, I saw many topics explored in the plays and the historical locations they were about! I visited where the First Amendment was signed and the second bank in America.
Throughout my time at Swarthmore, when I told people my class schedule, they said, "Oh, you must be a theatre major." Nope! I am a computer science major. The fact that I was taking two theatre department classes without being a theatre major or minor sent shock waves, even to students at a liberal arts college. Honestly, before coming to Swarthmore, if you had told me that I would be taking two theatre classes, I might not have believed you either. Since the classes focused on the history of the East Coast, I was engaged in an understanding of the East Coast's and America's political history like never before. Swarthmore showed me that one could approach learning topics from a perspective one might not initially expect. I learned it is valuable to make an effort to visit sites and events in cities even if they feel unrelated to one's prior experiences or interests –– in my case, plays about the history of Philadelphia.
Extending beyond the classroom, I continued my exploration of the place by connecting with the Swarthmore community through organizations and volunteering. I joined the Swarthmore Varsity Athletics Sports Medicine office as an assistant, so I got to spend time outside on the fields and courts surrounded by the lush greenery and wildlife. I volunteered as a Hospitality and Health Liaison at the Schuylkill Regatta (America's second-largest rowing regatta), where I met people from across the East Coast and experienced the bustle of Philadelphia.
When I first got into Pomona, I watched a video called “The Promise is in the Place,” which talked about the opportunities Pomona’s Southern California location offers. The chance to study at Swarthmore has shown me that Pomona’s philosophy of Promise in the Place is a lesson to take with me beyond the West Coast. Although I did not have any prior ties to Pennsylvania or Swarthmore, my time there taught me that meaningful experiences can arise even where you least expect them, reinforcing the idea that growth comes from stepping outside familiar surroundings and embracing what comes my way.
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An Aside:
Before I wrap this up, I can’t help but mention the food situation.
“Is it better than the 5C dining halls?”
It’s different. While they don’t have sushi, they offer a fantastic variety of pasta shapes on pasta night, so you’re always guaranteed a shape you like. Plus, the dining hall has a balcony where you can eat outside and enjoy a view of the forest and rare birds.