As I get ready to start my junior year at Harvard, I’ve been thinking a lot about everything the past two years have meant to me. Every class, friendship, late-night conversation, and unforgettable moment seems to have a song attached to it. Looking back on my first and sophomore years, these are the songs that have become the soundtrack of my Harvard experience.

Intro Song (Entering My First Year)

1. Started from the Bottom by Drake

When I think about my first few steps off the plane at Boston Logan, I can’t help but reflect on everything that brought me to that moment. Coming from a small, up-and-coming city in rural South Carolina, arriving at Harvard was a complete culture shock. Looking back, there’s only one song that captures exactly how I felt: Started from the Bottom.

First Year

2. Garden (Say It Like Dat) by SZA

Once I finished moving into my dorm and put the finishing touches on my decorations, it was time to step into the actual world of Harvard. Like many students, I experienced a strong sense of imposter syndrome. All of the excitement I felt stepping off the plane faded a bit as I found myself surrounded by people with incredible accomplishments and fascinating backgrounds. Much like SZA reflects on insecurity throughout Garden (Say It Like Dat), I questioned whether I truly belonged here. But as I met more people (especially during meals in Annenberg Hall), that feeling slowly disappeared. Before long, I found myself embraced by the Harvard community and finally settling into the college experience.

3. NASA by Ariana Grande

My concentration journey was anything but straightforward. Before deciding to double concentrate in Government and Philosophy, I seriously considered studying Astrophysics. I even took a General Education course called Worlds Beyond: The Past, Present, and Future of Our Solar System. The class was incredible and even gave me access to Harvard’s observatory at the top of the Science Center (which also houses my favorite library, Cabot Science Library). As much as I loved learning about space, I eventually realized astrophysics wasn’t the path for me. Ariana Grande’s NASA feels like the perfect soundtrack for that chapter of exploration and discovery.

4. Empire State of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys) by Jay-Z

In November 2024, I traveled to New York City for the National Black Pre-Law Conference with the Harvard Undergraduate Black Pre-Law Association. It was my first time visiting New York, and the experience was unforgettable. I connected with so many like-minded students from across the country while also getting to explore the city with my friends. Naturally, no song captures that trip better than Empire State of Mind.

5. Wobble by V.I.C.

One of the things that has truly made Harvard feel like my home away from home is its affinity spaces. The Black Students Association (BSA) and the Generational African American Students Association (GAASA) have become central parts of my community on campus. One of my favorite aspects of Generational African American culture is line dancing. Coming to Harvard introduced me to so many dances, and Wobble by V.I.C. was definitely one of the most memorable.

Interlude (Transition between First-Year and Sophomore Year)

6. Non-Stop by Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

One of the joys of finishing your First-Year is the summer transitionary period. I interned in DC the summer after my first-year so Non-Stop felt perfect as my switch from school to internship felt very similar to Hamilton’s switch from war to governing. Then, at the end of the song, everything came back together which symbolized my return to campus in the fall.

Sophomore Year

7. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst by Kendrick Lamar

One of my favorite classes of my Sophomore Fall was Phil 27: Truth, Lies, and the Press which demonstrated the interception between press, public, and government. Communications and government are both some of my favorite interests, so this class was perfect. Most of our readings focused on how stories are told and Kendrick Lamar encapsulates the way we tell stories and legacies, not only in the press but throughout life in general.

8. Lean on Me by Bill Withers

I can’t explain how many times I’ve found myself grateful for my friends throughout my sophomore year. From birthday celebrations to late-night hangout sessions, they’ve always been the people I could lean on. One of my favorite little traditions is scheduling text messages to send on the mornings of their exams, wishing them good luck before they even wake up. It’s a small gesture, but I hope it reminds them that someone is rooting for them.

9. Everything is Everything by Lauryn Hill

One of the most memorable parts of my sophomore year was serving in the Black Students Association. I spent the year as Secretary, and in April I was elected President. It was an incredible honor, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Between stepping into a new leadership role, studying for exams, and finishing final papers, life quickly became a whirlwind. In moments like those, it’s always nice to have music that keeps you grounded. One song I kept coming back to was Everything Is Everything by Lauryn Hill. It’s a reminder that even when life feels overwhelming, there’s still something to look forward to. No matter how chaotic things get, there’s always a brighter side waiting on the other end.

Outro Songs (Looking Forward to Junior Year)

10. Golden by Jill Scott and 20 Something by SZA

One of the best parts about finishing an academic year is knowing that another one is just around the corner. I’ve always believed in the power of new beginnings, and Golden by Jill Scott captures that feeling of optimism perfectly. As I look ahead to junior year, I’m hoping to keep my grades up, meet new people, embrace new opportunities, and, most importantly, enjoy the experience.

Junior year also marks the beginning of another chapter: my twenties. It’s an unfamiliar season of life, one filled with new responsibilities and challenges beyond college. Even so, I’m choosing to look forward with optimism. If sophomore year taught me anything, it’s that uncertainty isn’t something to fear, but it’s often where the best memories begin.

I hope you enjoyed the soundtrack of my Harvard experience, and I hope it inspires you to think about the songs that would tell the story of your own life up to this point. Music has a way of capturing moments that words sometimes can’t, and looking back through these songs has reminded me just how much can change in the span of a year.

As for me, I’m excited to begin the next half of my Harvard experience and to discover the songs that will come to define it.