21 car century insurance: Pomona College: Challenge Your Boundaries

Dear Diana,

At Pomona College we know that learning goes beyond the walls of our classrooms. Through funded research and internships, we encourage students to take a deep dive into their interests. Our Pomona College Internship Program (PCIP), in particular, enables students to pursue career paths, grow their professional networks and learn how their liberal arts education provides a competitive edge in professional work environments. We invite you to share in the stories of two students who leveraged their Pomona education in exciting ways.

Ricky Canton ’17
Major: Linguistics & Cognitive Science
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Activities: Volunteer at Literacy for All in Monterey Park, CA
Pomona Events Committee

As an intern at Common Justice, a victims service and alternative-to-incarceration program in New York, I explored a multitude of projects and the intricacies of legal advocacy work for young men of color. I identified suitable Kings County Supreme Court cases and developed employment and educational partnerships for our participants. I also assisted in the start-up project Healing Works, the first national collaborative for practitioners working with young men of color harmed by violence or trauma. Lastly, I was able to audit the efficacy of grants through Safe Horizon, a program for victims of domestic violence.

When I chose my internship, I wanted to ensure that the time I spent working over the summer wasn't only for myself. I wanted to direct my efforts toward people, especially these young men of color, being treated with dignity, justice and compassion. The skills I’ve honed at Pomona provided a framework for the work that I did. Understanding the sociological theories, political and legal institutions, and praxis of community partnerships allowed me to have a nuanced perspective during my internship. I wouldn't have come to this conclusion earlier in my education, but I found that the opportunities Pomona and its community ultimately provided inspired me to explore the legal field and engage with community-based legal work.

Quinn Sheehy ’17

Major: International Relations
Minor: Chinese

Hometown: Falls Church, VA
Activities: Head Mentor of the Asian American Mentor Program
Founder and President of Kasama Filipinx/American Student Association

This summer I worked at the World Health Organization China Representative Office in Beijing as a Communications and Tobacco-Free Initiative Intern. My main role was to help relay research findings and the status of current health policies in a reader-friendly manner to the Chinese public. I created infographics and tweets for the social media platform Webo and short essay posts for WeChat, a messaging app, in both English and Chinese. Over 700 million people in China use these platforms, and I learned how imperative it is that international organizations capitalize on social media to reach as many people as possible with information critical to survival.

Pomona and my liberal arts education have taught me how to foster a productive environment through collaborative teamwork and constructive analysis. Through classes, I learned how to research a variety of topics within and outside a particular field, adapt quickly, use critical thinking to complete a task, and regularly present with confidence on several issues. I am so grateful for this experience, as it combines three of my passions—International Relations, Chinese, and Marketing. Additionally, I have a newfound interest in public health that makes me want to work in the public, non-profit sector even more!

If you have any questions, please reach out to our office at (909) 621-8134 or email us.

Best Wishes,
Pomona College Diversity Team
Ashley Pallie, Associate Dean of Admissions
Michelle Gonzalez, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Michael Walden, Assistant Dean of Admissions
Jazzmin Estebane, Admissions Officer
Tieisha Tift, Admissions Officer
Rhosheil Chavez-Uy, Administrative Assistant