Hey, are you coming to play tonight? Pfoho needs YOU!

Amid the busy and borderline tumultuous schedule that all students are navigating, we must find a way to unwind. There are many ways that students can relax: hanging out with friends, exercising, and attempting new activities. But what if I told you that there is one experience that combines those three into one to produce the most enjoyable part of a student’s week? You may think it is unlikely for such a perfect activity to exist, but I guarantee it exists. That activity is called Harvard Intramural Sports—colloquially known as IMs!

So, what exactly are IMs? IMs are competitions in a host of sports that see upperclassmen Houses compete against each other throughout the academic year. Options include soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, pickleball, volleyball, badminton, and softball. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of the sports offered, but it gives you an idea of the variety! Houses score points by winning their weekly competitions and single-time tournaments, and at the end of the year, all points are tallied up. The House with the most points wins the glorious Straus Cup and the bragging rights that come with it! The best part is, EVERYONE is welcome to play. Regardless of your skill level at any sport, Houses and friends want you to make a cameo and represent the, subjectively, best house!

How would I describe my IM experience? In a word, whimsical. Initially, I was only interested in playing soccer for my House (the best House: Pforzheimer House/Pfoho). Even today, I vividly recall my first IM soccer game in my sophomore year. I must admit I was nervous about playing. I had not played in a competitive/semi-competitive setting for almost ten months, and I wondered if I could fit into the team. Was this team welcoming? Does being a part of the team only mean conversing and having fun on the field? These were just some of the questions I was asking myself as I geared up to play my first IM game. 

Those doubts in my mind almost immediately disappeared! Upon arriving on the field, I was greeted by the captain of the team. He was enthusiastic to see me even though he had no idea who I was. Just my presence alone made the captain as giddy as a kid on Christmas. The rest of the team followed suit, and I quickly became acquainted with them. Everyone was just joyous to be playing a sport amid a busy schedule and they appreciated anyone else who could make the time to share in their time of comparative leisure. When it came time to play mere minutes later, it already felt like we had played tons of seasons together. The fact we won the game—and that I scored four goals but that isn’t important—helped me enjoy IMs from the first day.

I was captivated by Harvard IMs. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more! Not only was I playing the sport I loved, but the people on my team were friends who cared about me beyond the field we shared. The captain of the Pforzheimer House IMs soccer team became a great friend of mine beyond the field. He often shared tea with me as we spent hours talking about the English Premier League. I loved IMs so much that I began playing sports I had previously avoided; basketball, pickleball, squash, volleyball, and badminton. In retrospect, that first game was the moment I made Harvard my home. It was the moment when I believed I had a space at Harvard to make friends and express my actual self—the fun, loud, and passionate me that was yearning to be shown. There are many places at Harvard where a student can do that outside of IMs. But for anyone wishing to have a fun time, connect with the people you live around, and perhaps discover hobbies you may not have thought you’d like, I believe there is no better activity than Harvard IMs!