A Year in Review: Insights from My Harvard Journey in 2023

As we step into the new year of 2024, it’s a tradition for me to create a physical vision board that encapsulates my aspirations and desired feelings for the year ahead. I go to an arts and crafts store to get a large piece of paper – every year a new color – and find inspirational photos and pieces of text to glue there. This year is particularly thrilling, marked by a significant milestone – my graduation from Harvard!

While crafting my vision for 2024 and preparing for my final semester, I reflect on the valuable lessons from 2023. Here you can read my lessons from 2022.

1. Patience in a Fast-Paced World

In our fast-moving society, and particularly on social media, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing oneself with others who seem more accomplished. That’s what I have often done. Especially at a place like Harvard, there’s always someone further ahead, whether it is a prestigious internship, a larger network, or better grades. I’ve often found myself yearning for more advanced opportunities, especially during my internships, feeling impatient with the seemingly slow progression of my career. This past year, the feeling has been particularly strong, and more so than the year before, I only started to understand how much there still is to learn! At times, it feels extremely overwhelming, not sure where to even start. However, I have learned the importance of appreciating the journey. Each step, no matter how small, is a part of the exciting path to the top. So even as an intern or in the first full-time job, there is much to be excited about. 

2. Embracing My Unique Path

My journey to Harvard has been unique. As an international student who didn’t attend a private school, I’ve often felt somewhat out of place. My experiences and achievements don’t necessarily align with the traditional image of a Harvard student, often portrayed as one who accumulates a litany of awards, scholarships, and prizes. The conventional path to success seems narrowly defined: attend a prestigious school, excel academically, secure a high-paying job in a major city like New York, and achieve all this preferably by the age of 22. Rich Karlgaard in his book Late Bloomers which I read last year refers to this as the ‘conveyor belt to success.’ This model, however, is not one-size-fits-all, and it’s essential to challenge our cultural perceptions of success. During my time at Harvard, I’ve seen firsthand the detrimental effects of early success pressure on students, especially on their mental health. It has reinforced my belief that we should celebrate diverse, individual paths to achievement, an ethos I fully embrace and advocate for.

3. Learning in Small Steps

Harvard can be overwhelming, with so many smart people around. Sometimes, it feels like you can’t catch up. But I’ve realized that you don’t have to be the smartest in the room to learn and grow. Learning isn’t just about spending hours in the library. It’s about using your time wisely, even in small ways.

For example, I started keeping up with financial news through apps and notifications. Just reading headlines on my way to dance class helped me feel more informed. I also began playing mind games daily to keep my brain sharp. In today’s world, you can learn a lot just by using your phone smartly, without spending a lot of money.

Adding my first two learnings here, this approach is about being patient and following your own path. You don’t have to learn everything at once. Small steps can lead to big improvements over time. This idea might not be new or anything groundbreaking, but it was a big part of my learning last year.

4. Never Too Late to Change

Growing up, math and natural sciences weren’t emphasized in my family. As a result, I didn’t learn to work hard on subjects I found difficult; instead, I naturally gravitated toward languages, reading, and writing, which I was already good at. In college, though, I met people studying different majors and started seeing the appeal of science and math. I realized how all these subjects are connected and regretted not paying more attention to them in high school.

I decided it wasn’t too late to change. I began to gather resources, borrowed old high school textbooks from the library, and started learning these subjects on my own. It’s been a rewarding journey. I’ve improved my math skills significantly compared to a year ago and have discovered a new interest in topics I once found daunting. This experience taught me that people can change at any stage in life, and curiosity isn’t just for kids.

5. Discovering the Benefits of Curiosity and How to Cultivate It

Before attending Harvard, I wouldn’t have described myself as particularly curious, especially in areas outside my comfort zone like STEM subjects. My interests were mainly in the humanities. However, Harvard’s liberal arts environment exposed me to a variety of new fields and ideas, sparking a curiosity I hadn’t felt before. I started to see the connections between different disciplines and developed a fascination with science. Conversations with friends majoring in biology, for instance, opened my eyes to the wonders of their field.

So, how can one become more curious? For me, it started by surrounding myself with people from diverse academic backgrounds. This exposure naturally led to an exploration of new subjects. I also found it helpful to relate these new interests to my major, economics. For example, considering architecture from an economic perspective – how it influences regional economic growth or affects pricing – made the subject more engaging and relevant to me. This approach not only broadened my knowledge base but also made the learning process more enjoyable and practical.