Clara Wells-Dang '27

Not long ago, I too was a senior in high school on the precipice of a big decision. My inbox was flooded with college emails, first impressions of campus tours starting to fade, my conceptions about a “dream school” changing. Between making my first college list and sitting down in front of my laptop on decision day, I had changed. 

Reflecting on that time now, I have so much empathy for the version of me who had only a vague, nondescript vision of what college should look like, a vision influenced by what my peers were saying at the time. I imagined a liberal arts college in the Northeast or California, maybe one with a focus on interdisciplinary learning, maybe a women’s college, maybe not.  

When May came around, I made my decision to come to Bryn Mawr at the very last possible second—an experience more common than you might think. When it came down to it, my experience at admitted students day became what drew me ultimately to coming here. When you have the chance to visit a campus, meet the people, the faces and voices who shape its community, you can start to picture yourself there. So, I walked around Bryn Mawr on an admitted students weekend in the spring and began to imagine my next four years here. I turned to to get an idea of the experiences students were having, from extracurriculars to social events and began to form a clearer, yet still evolving, vision of what my time here might look like. 

Several semesters in, I’m still in the process of making this place my own, and I’d like to share some of what makes Bryn Mawr so special. Bryn Mawr nourishes my creativity and continues to reshape my understanding of success. This year, I’m a part of the Dorm Leadership Team, working in ����������, and assisting Haverford Political Science Prof. Craig Borowiak with research. I also find time to DJ on air through our , write poetry for Creative Writing with Prof. Sanam Sherif, and review concerts in Philly for the Bi-Co News. Thanks to the close connection between Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Swarthmore, and increasingly, Philadelphia (CCP Partnership Program, Tri-Co Philly), I’ve had the chance to grow and learn from students beyond our campus.  

Most important to me are the mentors and friendships I’ve found in the process (I live close to the Zen Buddhist saying, “Good friends and excellent teachers—stick close to them.”) Here at Bryn Mawr, I find myself regularly inspired by my peers who lead equally creative, vibrant lives. Some are EMTs, others are lab managers, gallery curators, and community gardeners. At the same time, I am learning about the rich legacy of changemakers who’ve shaped this campus; it’s been especially meaningful to connect with Tri-Co (partnership between Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore Colleges) alumni and those from across the Seven Sisters network.  

I wonder if you can truly know whether a place is the right fit until you’re there—immersed in it, actively shaping it, and allowing it to shape you. To family and friends from home, I describe Bryn Mawr as a place where students have the potential to influence the campus they’re a part of. We have the oldest SGA and students work to uphold our college’s long-standing commitment to self-governance. Some incredibly meaningful changes have come from this core part of our institution—my favorite being the free SEPTA access through the Key Advantage UPass Program. The is another facet of Bryn Mawr that sparks dialogue across the student body and the broader community. It’s a space where students can stay connected with events on campus, express their perspectives, and share visions for changes they want to see on campus. 

Bryn Mawr is the beautiful buildings and cherry blossom trees you see on tour, but it also is the people and voices who actively shape this community. I think of SGA, student activism, and other initiatives as acts of reciprocity with the campus—leaving it a little better than when we arrived. As for me, I hope to leave Bryn Mawr having contributed to our tradition of being bold, outspoken, and engaged with issues on campus and in the world. 

Clara Wells-Dang '27 is majoring in Psychology and minoring in Creative Writing. Around Campus, Clara is a DJ at WHRC College Radio Station, Bi-Co Newspaper Arts & Culture Reporter, Customs Person for New Student Orientation, Research Assistant at Haverford, and involved in Tri-Co Philly.