It feels like college has flown by from my first year to now being in my senior year. I’ve discovered a lot during my time at Harvard - which libraries I like to study in, my favorite dining hall foods, and all the restaurants around campus.

I’ve also discovered just how many resources Harvard has to offer, and the more I’ve explored them, the more I’ve realized how many resources there are to support you throughout your college journey.

Here are a few things I wish someone had told me sooner:

1. Your library can be a study space, a media lab, or something completely different

I spent a lot of time during my first few years rotating between the same three libraries: Lamont, Widener, and Cabot. But each one offers much more than just a place to finish your work.

Find a Space is one of the easiest ways to explore the Library system. You can search for spaces based on things like noise level, room size, and available amenities, and you can reserve rooms in advance for meetings or interviews.

And if you’ve ever needed to make something, the Lamont Multimedia Lab offers tools and services for creative and digital projects, including large-format printing. Other libraries offer technology loans, media studios, and specialized equipment.

2. Alumni love to chat!

Navigating the campus felt challenging, especially at the beginning, and postgrad was a whole different beast. The best resource that I’ve found to be most helpful is reaching out to Harvard alums who are working in fields that I’m interested in. They are so open and eager to connect with students!

During my junior year, I would spend some time scrolling through LinkedIn and reach out to alums who I was really excited to speak with and ask them for a couple minutes of their day. It can feel initially intimidating to cold email someone, but I’ve only ever gotten warm and welcoming responses from Harvard alums. People really do want to help where they can.

3. Travel for free through Harvard clubs

While I myself haven’t utilized this resource as much, a lot of my friends have been able to travel to multiple countries for free through Harvard clubs or classes. 

One of my friends had the opportunity to travel to Japan for a month with her Model Congress club for a conference. While there, she had the chance to meet with students from colleges across the United States who were also flying in for the conference and also had some time to explore Japan on her own!

Another one of my friends had the chance to stay in Shanghai for a month his sophomore year as a part of a teaching program through his Harvard club. He said the most memorable part was being able to meet and talk to middle schoolers in Shanghai and immerse himself in the food and culture.

A lot of model congress, government, or international clubs host conferences abroad - across Asia, Europe, South America, and more. I would highly recommend taking advantage of the chance to travel through Harvard.

Other than clubs on campus, study abroad is also a popular option where you get the chance to spend a semester, summer, or break off campus and in a different part of the world. Some of the most popular destinations include Italy, Greece, and Japan! The Harvard Study Abroad webpage is a great resource to learn more about the different places where you can study abroad.

4. BoardPlus extends to various different places

BoardPlus is a $65 semesterly stipend that Harvard gives its students to spend at cafes or restaurants on Harvard campus. In my freshman year, I learned that BoardPlus can also be used to grab a yummy lunch at the Harvard Law School cafeteria. 

BoardPlus also extends to other parts of campus including but not limited to: Cafe Gato Rojo, Harvard Divinity School Cafe, as well as house grilles. House grilles are internal mini "house cafes" that are open late into the night with a menu that includes snacks like mac and cheese balls, ramen, matcha, etc. It can be a great pick me up when you're in the middle of exam season. 

If you’re looking for a change of scenery (and maybe change of food), Harvard Law School cafeteria is one of my favorite places to spend BoardPlus.

Harvard is full of resources - some are easily findable and some are a little more hidden. Each resource has the ability to bring a little more joy into your campus life at Harvard. Even as a senior, I still continue to find resources that I love.