The last first day of classes came too soon.
As my friends and I stood on the steps of Widener Library earlier this semester, we celebrated our last semester together at Harvard. Time’s gone by so fast—it feels like we had stepped onto Harvard’s campus for the first time only yesterday.
In high school, I used to wonder what college was like. My structured 8-to-3 schedule kept me busy during the day, and sports, extracurriculars, and homework took up most of my time at night. I had little time to spare for anything but schoolwork. Yet, I made the most of the little downtime I had hanging out with my friends, taking long walks, and picking up new hobbies—anything but working on my homework. In retrospect, those small moments are now some of my most treasured from high school.
College came around, and it brought with it a whole new set of experiences. I’ve gotten the chance to do more things than I can list. While my college experience is different from my high school experience, they share a characteristic: the small moments are the ones I remember most fondly.
Some of my most unforgettable memories have been made with the people I’ve met, the places I’ve been, and the things I’ve gotten to try in college. In this blog, I'd like to share my experience at Harvard and some of my favorite memories so far.
On Meeting Great People
Everyone at Harvard says the best thing about Harvard is the people. I can’t agree more. Harvard’s student body is one of the most diverse, open-minded, driven, fun, and quirky communities I’ve been a part of.
My friends at Harvard have made long evenings (sometimes 2 or 3 am nights) bearable. They've encouraged me to be a better person, push myself harder, and challenge my norms and assumptions. They've also been with me through some of my toughest and happiest times.
Every story has characters—the protagonists, antagonists, and the people we meet along the way. At Harvard, the people I’ve met have defined my college experience in ways nothing else could, and the friendships I've made will stay with me long after I graduate.
On Visiting Great Places
I’ve never been much of a traveler. As a kid, I used to help my parents at home when they were busy with work. My sister and I spent much of our time in my backyard playing with insects and collecting sour plums from our neighbor's tree. I didn’t go far from home, but that was comfy.
In college, I got my first chance to travel. I had the opportunity to explore Boston over several summers; tour Sweden with Collegium, my choir; debut a musical piece in Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City; go on day trips to Cape Cod, Providence, Rockport, Salem, and the Berkshires; go apple picking in Stow, MA; visit Yale for the annual Harvard-Yale game; and hike at Acadia National Park in Maine. That’s not all: soon, I will visit Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks with my blockmates and go on tour with Collegium through Vermont into Montreal, Canada.
New places bring new experiences. At each of these places, I have vivid memories of hanging out with my friends. In Sweden, I sat on the porch of the Eric Sahlström Institute and watched the morning sun climb over the trees. In New York City, I hobbled around puddled sidewalks with my friends until we found a boba place because we insisted on going to a boba place on the first night. In Rockport, after my roommate and I serendipitously missed a train, we lay on massive rocks that jutted out into the Gulf of Maine and watched the stars glide through the sky. These vivid memories bring my time at Harvard to life and will stay with me forever.
On Discovering New Things
School is a place to learn, and at Harvard, learning happens in all sorts of ways. Sure, learning happens in the classroom: after all, that’s where I learned about why milkweed is toxic, the “dizziness of freedom” as described by Søren Kierkegaard, and just how bad sleep deprivation is for your health.
However, learning also happens when you stumble into a flower shop, find an espresso machine outside of your classroom, and come across a guitar at the shelter where you work. I’ve picked up everything from latte art and floral arrangement to a love of social work and playing the guitar. They all started with some free time and kairos—an ancient Greek word describing being in the perfect place at the perfect time to take advantage of an opportunity.
Sometimes, a story’s unexpected twists are what make them memorable. At Harvard, I don’t regret taking roads not taken.
One Chapter Ends, the Next One Begins
Any good novel ends with a cliffhanger. At least, that’s my favorite way to end a book. What will happen next? Who’s to know?
An incomplete ending leaves the reader grasping for answers, contending with truths, and rethinking life. Well, I guess this is where the next part of my story begins—how exciting!
I want to thank everyone who’s been a part of my college experience—I appreciate you more than you may know. Looking forward to staying in touch after college!
