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 As a freshman at Pomona College, Jesse Last had a little
fun with his friends from back East when they called. “I’d
say ‘yeah, I’d love to talk more but it’s time to go for a
swim in the pool,’” he says.
Jesse Last grew up outside of Boston, Mass., in a region
full of prestigious colleges and universities. But his
cousin kept telling him he really had to check out Pomona
College.
So Last came to California to see for himself and quickly
concluded: “She was right.”
Pomona’s top-notch academics matched any other school he was
looking at, but there was something unique about this place.
“It was a different feel, from the weather to the students
to the class sizes,” he says.
One of Last’s fondest Pomona moments came during the second
week of his freshman year, when he and classmates were up
late working on a project. They sat down by a fountain and
wound up playing and wrestling in the water for about 15
minutes.
Though his cell phone was a casualty, the moment came to
epitomize his time at Pomona.
Late nights of study are common at this academically
rigorous school, but Pomona students also find time for
friendships and fun. “Each year I’ve met new people that I
didn’t know before,’’ he says. “This year I made a bunch of
new friends -- junior year. My experience here really comes
down to people.”
“One thing I appreciate about Pomona is that people aren’t
arrogant about their intelligence,” says Last. “They’re not
just smart; they’re thoughtful people. And that’s really
important to me.”
His favorite classes have included a U.S. Congress course in
which students spent a week playing roles in a simulation of
the U.S. Senate, trying to push through or block bills.
“Almost all of my classes are so small,” he says. “If you
want to stay after class and talk to your professor because
you have a follow-up question, they’re happy to do that and
they have the time
to do that.”
As a career, Last intends to go into public service, either
working for the government or a nonprofit agency. He
recently earned a prestigious Truman Scholarship, providing
$30,000 for him to attend graduate school. Pomona professors
helped him
prepare for the interview, grilling him in practice
sessions.
“The professors care about individual students,” says Last.
“I have professors who I’ve had dinner with, who are
friends.”
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