Transitioning from the military to Harvard is an experience, to say the least.
One moment, you’re carrying over 100 pounds of combat equipment through steep, mountainous terrain in the middle of nowhere. The next, you’re carrying a copy of Greg Mankiw’s Principles of Economics, 10th Edition through the Harvard Yard while bracing against the frigid winds of Cambridge. Whether it’s the tattoos or showing up fifteen minutes early to every class, one thing is certain: military veterans stand out at the College. So, what is it like being a military veteran at Harvard?
On February 26th, 2018, I enlisted in the U.S. Army as an 11B Infantryman, foregoing the world in the Pacific Northwest I had previously known for the entirety of my life. I exchanged my civilian clothes for a uniform embroidered with “EWANCHYNA” along my chest, while simultaneously sporting a buzz cut that I would prefer never to see a photo of myself with again. I was then stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, where I spent the remainder of my active duty service with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 2-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team as a M240 machine gunner and Weapons Squad team leader.
To me, being a military veteran at Harvard is the best of both worlds. As a Government concentrator, I’m continuously asked to share my “boots on the ground” perspective during the more theoretical-focused conversations that take place during lectures or sections. Every time I share an idea or story from past experiences in the military, my classmates and professors are genuinely fascinated and eager to learn more. In contrast, I have the unparalleled opportunity to learn alongside the world’s best, brightest, and leaders of tomorrow. Discovering the stories of my non-veteran peers at Harvard and their astonishing feats have inspired me to pursue dreams I once thought to be unattainable, and it truly becomes evident that Harvard’s diverse community of students who represent all facets of life is what makes this campus inimitable.
Speaking of community: There are over 400 student organizations at Harvard. When I first arrived in the fall of 2022, I sought to immerse myself in new communities that would allow me to grow and continue to discover who I was beyond the uniform. Despite never even touching a rugby ball in my entire life, the Harvard Rugby Football Club (the oldest rugby club in North America) welcomed me with open arms and turbulent tackles. Harvard Consulting on Business and the Environment, one of the largest student-run consulting groups on campus, allowed me to work on strategy consulting cases with real Fortune 500 companies and their top executives. The Harvard Undergraduate Wine Society introduced me to decadent wines from around the world, and I now serve as the group’s President (yes, you must be over 21). From my personal experience, the moment one grasps the immeasurable opportunity there is at Harvard is the moment one’s life changes forever.
Much like the military, Harvard prides itself on its lineage and history of service to one’s country. As I walk to class beneath the antique oak and elm trees that elegantly paint the Yard, I feel as if I’m walking alongside the heroes of our past. But more importantly, I too feel that I can change the world just as they did – and this is exactly what being a veteran at Harvard means to me.
