When I was a first-year, I was stressing about how I would spend my first summer in college when I stumbled upon a summer opportunity to work at the Admissions and Financial Aid Office. I had never considered working as a student tour guide or ambassador before, but I figured my first summer in college was the best summer for experimentation. That was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my time here. 

I applied, interviewed, and was offered an internship a few weeks after first seeing the job opening. I immediately accepted, and was pumped to begin working. It was my first summer away from home, but I thought the opportunity to meet new people and make new memories was worth it. Once the summer came, I said goodbye to my family and moved back onto campus. 

My first few days as a summer intern were spent learning the script for a full campus tour and being trained on how to interact with guests and prospective students. It was tedious work, but I was willing to do whatever it took to get to the good stuff: giving tours as a solo guide. Once I started giving tours on my own, something clicked for me. I could see, in real time, what representation did for people. I came from a community where Harvard was more a distant dream than an attainable goal for most people; I didn’t even think Harvard was a realistic choice for college until I saw alumni and students who looked like me and shared my background. On my tours, I could be that person for prospective students. I had conversations with prospective students where I could visibly see them make the choice to apply to Harvard through their facial expressions. 

Now, as a student coordinator for the Undergraduate Admissions Council (UAC), I get to work with students at all steps of the admissions process, from the prospective student stage to the admitted student stage. I spend my time trying to convince students to choose Harvard and get to interact even closer with students who question if Harvard has a space for people like them. I can reach even more students, have even more meaningful conversations, and represent Harvard on a larger scale. Altogether, working in the Admissions Office has provided me with a structured and direct way of engaging with students who may be interested in attending Harvard, showing what Harvard really looks like for students, and dispelling the myths that may push people away.

To me, being a tour guide and student coordinator isn’t just about showing guests cool buildings on campus. It’s about showing students how accessible Harvard can be, humanizing Harvard by sharing personal experiences, and serving as the physical representation that leads many students to decide if they should even apply to Harvard. If I can convince just one questioning student to apply, I know I have done good work. Being a tour guide and student coordinator has allowed me the opportunity to impact the higher education system for the better, albeit in small ways. It has shown me that this is the type of work matters, and that all the big actions to effect change in the world of higher education starts with passionate people working in small but mighty ways. 

Recruitment is meaningful and important work, and I have enjoyed every minute I’ve had the honor of doing it.