On Thursday, May 26th at 6:45 AM, the Class of 2022 flooded through the formidable gates of Harvard Yard and entered the packed Tercentenary Theater for one last time as undergraduates. The atmosphere was frenetic as Harvard University President Lawrence S. Bacow commemorated each student for earning their undergraduate degrees. Under crimson flags bearing crests of each House, students filed into endless rows of white folding chairs lining every inch of the Yard.
This fall, a new class will claim those white folding chairs from Commencement for their Convocation ceremony. The Class of 2026 have existed within a waiting room of uncertainty about what to expect from their first steps on campus. Some incoming students will scavenge the internet for articles on the “freshman experience” and YouTube videos showcasing “A Day in the Life of a Harvard Student,” while others cling to every word on Harvard’s countless emails on “student resources.”
Though one can simply Wikihow “How to Get into Harvard,” a question lingers once students have earned their spots: Now what?
During her first year, Georgia Messinger ’22 wished she “would have been more open to all sorts of experiences and people. It’s easy to shut out certain people or keep your head down. It can feel like everyone knows each other or already has found their place. Reality check: all new freshmen are in the same boat! Everyone is experiencing all this craziness for the first time together.” Messinger encouraged incoming freshmen to “say yes to everything, and to not be afraid to put yourself out there.”
Olly Gill ’22 expressed, “I would give anything to go back and tell myself, ‘Do not stress about what everybody else is doing.’” Having served as the captain of the lacrosse team, she voiced that “being in such a high-achieving, demanding environment is an incredibly, amazing opportunity, but it can feel overwhelming as you often compare yourself to others. The best thing you can do for yourself is to try to make decisions dependent upon your personal beliefs and aspirations.”
Harvard provided Gill with the space to confidently explore campus activities “without a buddy,” such as Harvard Student Agencies tutoring, Lowell Tea, and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Balancing sports, a job, and academics, Gill urged freshmen to “figure out where you align at Harvard and have trust in your abilities to make independent choices. You are equipped to handle more than you think you are capable of!”
Incoming freshmen are introduced to multifaceted individuals, possessing not only intelligence but grit, passion, creativity, and curiosity. Gill appreciated “the unique and enriching experience of being a part of and learning from such an incredible, diverse student body comprised of scientists, artists, athletes, and musicians.”
“Meet as many other freshmen as possible in the opening days,” reiterated David Pines ’22. “Try to at least introduce yourself and be friendly. It is the best time to meet the people you will see for the next four years.”
Harvard’s plentiful libraries around campus facilitate both animated collaboration and shared spaces of silence for students knee-deep in their textbooks and laptops. Pines’ classic study spot was Lamont Library, where he enjoyed late-night trips to the vending machines that save tired students from running out of steam. Messinger recommended the more secluded study atmosphere of Jenny’s Cafe within the Harvard Art Museum.
To the Class of 2026: Your acceptance letter is an open invitation for spontaneity, for exploration in uncharted territory by stretching your interests and seeking new faces. In the face of novelty, embrace the infectious unease of the unpredictable.
Alexandra Lenzo ’25 (alexandralenzo@college.harvard.edu) enthusiastically recommends Sweetgreen on JFK Street to all incoming freshmen.