Through the Looking Glass: A Reflection on My Senior Year through Pictures

Raymond Class of '25

November 05, 2024

All my life, I’ve enjoyed living in the moment. I love sitting on a hill, looking out into the horizon, and watching the sun slip behind the contours of the mountains. I love being with people I care about. Sometimes, the hallmark of a perfect moment is that it doesn’t leave anything behind—not even a photo.

However, this summer, I realized this isn’t always true.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Is this true?

Sure. A photo captures a moment. Sometimes, it stops time just long enough for light to render an image—to capture a swan taking flight, the curves and contours of the moon, or your dog’s cute face when they try to catch a treat.

A close-up picture of the moon, taken at night. — *The Moon during Mid-Autumn Festival — Focal length: 300 mm, F number: f/11, Exposure time: 1/160*

Other times, it cherishes the moment, taking in light from flowing water, migrating stars, and an ever-changing sky to produce something magical and moving.

Picture of water rushing over rocks on a rocky shore. — *Water Rushing Over Mossy Shore Rocks — Focal length: 30 mm, F number: f/25, Exposure time: 1/3*

Perhaps, more importantly, a photo captures memories. Photos are time-locked, bearing the name of the moment they were taken, the camera that took them, and the settings that produced them. Like time capsules, they collect fragments of feelings, sights, and experiences and store them in something colorful and everlasting.

A close-up picture of a bumble bee flying away from an open yellow flower. — *A bumblebee departing from a flower — Focal length: 200 mm, F number: f/5.6, Exposure time: 1/1,600*

This summer, my sister (who loves photography) inspired me to take up a great deal on a cheap camera set. The more I learned, the more amazed I became. Aside from the exposure triangle, composition, and a bit of patience, I learned that photos allow us to communicate thoughts and ideas with the world. Photography also unlocked a new way of seeing the world—literally and figuratively.

As my college years come to a close, I thought it’d be fun to take a trip down memory lane. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a collection of pictures tells a thousand stories. These are the stories of my senior year, told through the pictures in my camera roll.

A Start to Senior Year, and Photography

Picture of a red public mail delivery box with the words "NOT ART" painted on it. — *NOT ART — Focal length: 70 mm, F number: f/4.5, Exposure time: 1/60*

What’s art? That question lingered after I went for a walk with my new camera for the first time. Shot on auto, this picture captured so many opposites. Light and darkness, a rustic look on something so modern, and “NOT ART.” I realized art and beauty come in many shapes and forms—perhaps even in a play on words! Perhaps, it was a fitting question for having just started photography and my senior year of college.

A Final Hurrah with the Harvard Choruses

Picture of a red poster with the words "SING AT HARVARD" on it taped on a billboard among other posters. — *Audition for the Harvard Choruses! — Focal length: 110 mm, F number: f/4.8, Exposure time: 1/60*

As the fall semester started, it didn’t occur to me that I only had one year of college left until I realized this would be the last year I could sing with the Harvard Choruses. When I came into college, the Harvard Choruses and the community in Collegium anchored me to Harvard. In the following years, I got the chance to travel to New York City and Sweden, perform multiple world debuts—some at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in NYC—and grow as a musician in ways I’d never thought possible. When I think back to my freshman year, I realize the Harvard Choruses have been a central part of my college experience all along, and I will miss it forever when I leave. In this picture, I captured my last time postering for Harvard Choruses auditions.

Picture of the edge of a beach beside a lake with a pine forest in the background. — *Camp Winaukee at Lake Winnipesaukee — Focal length: 18 mm, F number: f/11, Exposure time: 1/500*

Only a few weeks in, we went to Camp Winaukee at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire for my last Harvard Choruses fall retreat. We toasted marshmallows around a campfire, sang our hearts out, and—most importantly—had a great time!

A Return to My “Tree”

Image of a yellow bird sitting on a branch of goldenrod flowers. — *A goldfinch among goldenrods — Focal length: 300 mm, F number: f/8, Exposure time: 1/250*

As fall progressed, I found myself going back to the Mount Auburn Cemetery, where I observed a tree for a class called “Tree”. It was equally as tranquil as it had been every time I went as a freshman. Among the beautiful things I saw was this American goldfinch hiding among goldenrod flowers. I also got the chance to revisit Abra, my dawn redwood tree.

And a Departure to Maine

Picture of a blue-ish pink sky, taken from a rocky shore with pine trees in the background. — *Sunset on the Rocks at Acadia — Focal length: 4.2 mm, F number: f/1.6, Exposure time: 1/136*

Then, my friends and I decided to make a college dream trip come true: we took a weekend trip to Acadia National Park. Although I forgot to bring my camera battery, we managed to take great pictures on our phones!

A close-up picture of sand at a beach with the ocean water in the background. — *A Day at the Beach — Focal length: 4.25 mm, F number: f/1.8, Exposure time: 1/1,953*

We soaked up the sun at a beach.

Picture of the terrain of a rocky mountain with pine trees. — *Plants on the Beehive Trail — Focal length: 4.25 mm, F number: f/1.8, Exposure time: 1/3,401*

Climbed the Beehive Trail.

Picture of a slice of blueberry pie with whipped cream topping on the slide. — *Maine's best — Focal length: 4.25 mm, F number: f/1.8, Exposure time: 1/60*

And (of course) had the perfect Maine-style blueberry pie to finish off the trip.

Apple-Picking, a First and a Last

I went apple-picking twice this year—once with Currier House, then again with Collegium.

Picture of three apples hanging onto a branch of an apple tree. The top apple looks rotten. — *Apples and Old Age — Focal length: 98 mm, F number: f/5, Exposure time: 1/2,000*

This was at Carver Hill Orchards. Sadly, these would also be my last apple-picking trips in college. Not a moment too soon!

Picture of three apples on a picnic table. — *Beauty in simplicity — Focal length: 125 mm, F number: f/5.6, Exposure time: 1/640*

These trips made me realize how nice little moments can be. Sometimes, it’s the simple things that are the most beautiful.

A Reflection on Great Dining

Picture of a plate of Thanksgiving-style food. There's a glass container with red juice and pumpkin pie on the table. — *Audey Bruce Currier Day — Focal length: 4.25 mm, F number: f/1.8, Exposure time: 1/40*

And, of course, I will miss the food at Currier (best house). I will be forever grateful for meals like this one at the Currier House dining hall.

The Chance to Make A Difference

Picture of a finished-baked apple cinnamon cake. — *Apple Cinnamon Cake — Focal length: 4.25 mm, F number: f/1.8, Exposure time: 1/60*

Thanks, Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, for letting me cook.

Conclusion

As I think about my senior year and reflect on my college experience, I see a bittersweet end to one chapter of my life and the start of another. Harvard has given me so many opportunities to try out new things, learn, and grow. At Harvard, I have also made friends of a lifetime. At the end of the day, it’s these things that will stay with me forever. And it’s these things I will remember forever.