By Ananda B. (Class of 2024, Harvard University)
Navigating the Uncertain
As a member of the high school class of 2020 and a college freshman in 2020, it's felt like our time in college has been nothing but.
The previous four years, especially for the class of 2024, have brought us through an amalgamation of emotions. We ended high school and started college most unconventionally; due to the pandemic, we started college as squares within a Zoom screen in our childhood bedrooms, and many of my classmates, including myself, attended our first actual graduation for the first time over the last few weeks. Even then, our graduations were shrouded with protest, ambivalence, and unrest over the events happening around the world, specifically the events in Gaza and our universities’ complicities in these human rights injustices.
Even when we arrived on campus, the experience was marked by many uncomfortable moments of navigating a strange terrain. This included things like adjusting to a new living situation, managing a more rigorous academic workload, and finding my place in a new social environment. Creating that college experience we felt we were promised was a journey that required us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the unknown.
Amidst the uncertainty and the unfamiliar, I discovered one of the most empowering lessons of my college journey: the power of agency. I realized that nothing is ever promised, and we are constantly navigating uncertain tides. But in this sea of uncertainty, I found strength in taking ownership of my experience and embracing the moment I am living in.
I also reemphasized my agency in writing my story and owning my experience. Through this, I’ve learned that we are constantly navigating uncertainty, which for me meant dealing with unexpected changes, making decisions without all the information, and learning to adapt to new situations.
Finding Your Self & Your Power in College
In college, I learned to take autonomy of my truth, story, and decisions. This meant being true to myself, not being swayed by others' opinions or expectations, and making decisions that were in line with my values and goals. Harvard is what it is because of the people who came here. This is not to undermine the breadth of exciting opportunities here but to say that our decisions, being, and imagination actively shape what Harvard is. In a moment when my experiences didn’t resemble what I thought the “college experience” was, I learned that it was up to me to decide and mold my experience.
I also learned there is no right way to do college, or navigate yourself. There is no one way to be a college student. Listening to my instincts, which for me meant paying attention to my feelings and intuition, and the passions I want to explore and spend time with is enough. I have leaned into listening to the internal voice that guides me, which for me is a sense of what feels right and what aligns with my values, to maybe try something out of my comfort zone rather than being confined to what I think I ought to be doing.
Community
In my college experience, the most profound moments were those shared with my community. If I could offer one piece of advice to future students, it would be to cherish the people who come into your life. Whether it’s an Access Opportunity adviser, a classmate, or a professor, they have the potential to shape your life in ways you can't yet imagine. The lessons I've learned from others have shaped me in ways I’m only beginning to understand, and I'm excited for you to embark on this journey of discovery.
The friends and mentors I met evolved from faces on a Zoom screen to best friends and mentors. It’s a picture that might be different from what I imagined coming in but that I’d have no other way.
Ananda was one of Access Opportunity's Student Ambassadors throughout the 2023-24 school year. She worked on many different projects this year, but this essay represents her final work as an ambassador. To learn more about her, please visit her other blog post. We wish you luck as you graduate from college, Ananda!
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