One of my favorite extracurricular activities is dance.
I have been dancing since I was three years old, and while I am no dance prodigy, it has always been a part of my life, so I was determined to continue dancing during college.
There are many different levels of dance at Harvard, and many different ways to participate in dance on campus. There are for credit courses that can be taken at the Harvard Dance Center that can count towards the Theater, Dance, and Media concentration, to not for credit classes that are open to the whole Harvard community, and of course there are plenty of student led dance groups and companies.
Publicity photo for HRMDC
I am currently a proud member of the Harvard Radcliffe Modern Dance Company (HRMDC) and the Expressions Dance Company (EDC). Each semester the dance companies put on one show that consists of a number of pieces choreographed by student choreographers. This semester I have chosen to participate in one piece in each company. For each dance piece, the dancers meet with their choreographer once a week to learn choreography and rehearse, then during the week of the show, all the pieces and choreographers come together with the student directors of the company to put together the showcase.
This year’s theme for HRMDC was Once Upon A Time - all the dances were inspired by a classic fairytale or folktale. Watch a YouTube video created about this year’s HRMDC performance by a fellow member, Sophia Tang.
Every year the Expression Dance Company’s show theme is a play on the name of the Dance Company. This year’s show is EXpensive, the previous show I was apart of was EXposed. Here is a publicity photo I took with a friend for EXposed
Publicity photo for EXposed
I love participating in dance on campus because for a few hours a week I can completely forget about school work and indulge in a form of exercise that makes me happy. In addition, I get to spend time with friends and make new friends in the process.
Being a member of these dance companies makes me feel like I have a second family on campus.
Follow the links in this blog to learn more about dance at Harvard College!
A photo of the 2026 Summer Recruitment Ambassadors on the Weeks Bridge
Drawing can be a leisure activity or a great way to relax. A sketch book and pen often accompanied me at the park in my free moments.
A photo of the Harvard Art Museums
My Philosophy banner
My Siblings and I When we were Younger
Here I posed with my new team to celebrate our victory in my first game of flag football. I even taught the team how to sign "K" for Kirkland House in ASL
During the Cultural Rhythms, Caitlyn showcased her beautiful Vesido De Flores dress from Mexico and I showcased South Sudanese Lawa. Later only to find out she is in Pforzheimer House, the best house. We become friends ever since. An amazing woman
FUP Silent Disco
First-year students gather to commemorate a successful alumni networking event at the historically exclusive Harvard Club of Boston
Nearly 200 students across 20+ high schools attended Harvard's first High School Ethics Bowl (HCHSEB)
Mollie and Kai during the interview at Currier House!
A sign welcoming new Quincy house residents on Housing Day!
The Barker Center, home to the Harvard College Writing Center
2026 LEAD Board
During my internship at the Harvard Admissions Office, I met great people who continue to be my close friends.
Secquoia and her fiancé after running the Cambridge Half Marathon
Secquoia with her mom and sister at a family weekend event!
Some friends and I took a coach bus from Boston to New York City and visited Times Square as a part of this trip!
Pfohomies Enjoying the Grill'n'Stein
My friends from my entryway and I pose for a picture together before we go kayaking!
Outfield seat view of a game at Fenway Park between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles
Philip Brooks House, the locus of public service on campus, located in Harvard Yard.
Every September, the College holds an Extracurricular Fair in Harvard Yard. This is one of the first opportunities for many to learn about GAASA.
Captured around sunset as we hiked the Watchman Trail.
My friends and I celebrating our last first day of classes this semester.
The view from one of the peaks in Mount Mansfield State Forest, Vermont!
A picture of many runners (including the author, Ricky) running during the Cambridge Half Marathon.
Various colorful flower bouquets which were given to first-gen/low-income student on the kick of of FGLI Visibility Week.
A picture of Harvard College students who attended RAZA's first event of the semester in the fall of 2024.
A photo of me with the first two other students who were hired as freshman student workers last fall
One of my favorite photos of TCS. Small Island, Big Family!
View from the hotel in Sidi Bou Said, Tunis
A picture taken of me during Harvard vs. University of New Hampshire.
Samia Afrose with friends at Luxor Cafe
Samia Afrose and Hana Rehman at South Asian Convocation
My Sister and I on NSA's Executive Board in 2023
Hana Rehman at Mock Mehndi
Hana Rehman at Sur Sagar
Harvard College students host Chaand Raat.
A photo of myself looking at the Zanzibari waters
Cheering you on in your scholarship application journey!
Harvard Foundation interns in the spring of 2024, dressed up before the event of Cultural Rhythms.
A group photo on the last day of class!
Grupo Frontera with those who attended RAZA’s Trailblazer Award ceremony
My view from atop a hill near a mining camp.
My bookshelf in my dorm!
Malika Umar and Samia Afrose Celebrating Eid-al-Fitr
A photo of my classmates, Prof. Habib and I
Seeing the Lotus Temple in Delhi, India was only one of the many great experiences I've had thanks to Harvard Model Congress
Me with the director of FOP, the wonderful Lesedi Graveline
My mom and I at Junior Parents Weekend
Latinx Convocation is an important event that celebrates Latinx culture and welcomes first years to Harvard! Julia Casas president of Fuerza on the left and Gloria Maldonado president of Latinas Unidas on the right.
MEDLife volunteers posing for picture with MEDLife Logo
My fellow HFAI coordinators and I at Sufra!
The 2022 summer American Repertory Theater (from left to right): Chinyere Obasi '24, Caron Kim '24, Sophie Kim '24, Diana Chen '25, Sophie Garrigus '25.
My friends and I love attending the socials that are hosted by the affinity groups!
The sunrise on the morning of Housing Day this year.
My First Harvard Yale Game
The Fall 2021 HFAI Student Coordinator Team!
A picture of a white poster with "Adams House is the Best House" written on it.
So grateful to have worked with these amazing student leaders this past year!
A dancer jumping in the air
My fellow singers and I singing “Lay Me Low,” our closing number, by Addah Z. Potter and arranged by Kevin Siegfried, at Reunion: A Fall Concert.
To relax after midterms, some friends and I enjoyed donuts for breakfast in Leverett Dining hall.
Here's some friends and I at Acadia National Park over an extended weekend!
Me and a teammate sailing the first double handed sail of the year.
Cherry Blossom outside Lowell
Here's Harpreet and I with our best friends back in high school!
Here is a picture of my family, including my mom, brothers, grandma, uncle and aunt, and cousins.
trips into Boston are worth it!
My blockmates and I at Winthrop House on our Housing Day!
I have very specific playlists for every mood.
Here are some of the books I've been reading for fun lately!
Kuumba had a winter concert last year that focused on the importance of Black Love; this photo, which captures the power of intimacy, was taken during the dance section of the concert.
Here is the full cast (and some of our crew) for the Hyperion Shakespeare Company's production of Macbeth!
Here's a group photo of the Radcliffe Choral Society on the steps of Stella Maris Church in San Juan! We sang here several times, for rehearsals, church services, and our finale concert the night before we flew back to Boston.
Here's the new Sunflower sign we just put up with our students as community service.
Harvard Yard, where many first-year students live.
A Zoom Picture from my FYRE Family!
I found myself this summer sitting at my laptop a lot more than I had originally planned
I make the most of my Zoom-ed reality by taking calls outside!
Here I am teaching a government class from last summer!
During the last days of first-year, I organized an outdoor picnic in Harvard Yard for the Black Class of 2022. There was pizza, music, and an entertaining, but yet chaotic game of musical chairs.
Performing at the Peabody Museum's Day of the Dead celebration and exhibit.
The view of the Charles River from Leveret House, which is right next to Winthrop House!
My Harvard Journal Project notebook, with its (not so successful) attempt to color the Harvard logo on the front.
My friends and I decided to have a group photo session the day before leaving campus!
Me giving out homemade awards to my MFP students!
I took this photo of the Boston skyline while running by the Charles River.
The office threw me a mini goodbye party to thank me for my work during the summer!
Veritaffle
Another spot to rest with great views of New Hampshire!
A view of the city of Boston from Harvard's campus.
HUSE board members working hard to manage student lounge and to assist students during Splash.
The Ladies of the Rainbow. I am the Lady in Blue in my last Black CAST production.
Nigerian Students Association Executive Board at our 9th Annual Independence Day Gala
This is the photo for my satirical piece: "My Guilty Pleasure is the Crimson Arts Internal Service Error."
Harvard Primus's President Brandon and I at our table at this year's activities fair!
HPF teamed up with Wellesley's Club Filipino for a Kamayan performance!
Since the trail was too muddy to actually hike, we decided to walk around near the creek and take pictures together.
This is where I'm building the R&J set!
Me introducing speakers at the JFK Jr. Forum!
The NAHC Board!
