I shared my story with students, speaking about what it was like growing up in Alabama, how my high school years shaped my interests both inside and outside the classroom, and how discovering jazz music became such an important part of my journey. I also shared what my first year at Harvard has been like—from fascinating classes that challenged the way I think to joining communities that made campus feel like home, including music groups and the Harvard Lampoon, where I’ve had the chance to explore comedy and creative writing.
Being open about my own experiences allowed me to connect with the students while showing that there are many different paths to college and that it’s okay for those paths to evolve over time. I loved how attentive and engaged everyone was throughout the presentation!