We are often reminded—by friends, relatives, and even the media—that the four years of college are the best years of our lives. Perhaps I was naïve at the time, back in the fall of 2010, but I certainly believed in this truism when I started at Harvard.
Four years later, after countless sleepless nights, term papers, moments of self-doubt, final exams, conflicts with friends, and other stress-inducing endeavors, I still believe that such is the case, but not in the way that I originally conceived and not in the way that many students have come to expect.
College has provided me, and many of my peers, the highest of the highs: moments of unadulterated beauty and joy that are simply unparalleled. Being a part of the Harvard Political Review and working with this group of talented editors and writers never ceases to amaze me. Going on Harvard’s Freshman Outdoor Program as a freshman, training to become a leader, and co-leading three trips in the New Hampshire woods was transformational. Going on excursions with friends to foreign and far-off lands like Jamaica and New Haven, listening to music, and confiding in one another our values and aspirations will always have immense meaning. I will always cherish these memories, as they remind me of what Harvard has to offer—the moments that I can confidently look back on and apply that superlative of this being the best of times.
But what I have come to realize over the years is that college—and Harvard especially—is not a monotonic experience, constantly trending upward from your first day to your last. The whole thing resembles something like a sinusoid. While the analogy is not perfect coming from a history concentrator, the takeaway is that there are peaks and valleys—the highs, but also, unfortunately, some of the lows. So while you will encounter these chapters of triumph, you also face corresponding moments of trial and struggle, academically, personally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. There will be moments when these challenges, coming from different dimensions, will temper the allure of college. But there is a silver lining to it all.
Part of the wonder of college is emerging from these trials stronger than before. You learn things about yourself that you had never known before. You gain a better understanding of your values, your friends, and your dreams. And you develop a stronger sense of self and a network of support around you. Thus, successive returns to the peaks get easier. The lows will not be as low.
Academically, the thesis writing process viscerally stands out as the embodiment of this theory. From dealing with the self-imposed isolation of research to confronting the undue pressure of having to make a pioneering discovery, the process was fraught with challenges that I had never really faced before. This foray into academia certainly tested my mettle and resolve at times, and these moments of difficulty challenged the notion of college ever being the golden years.
Yet the state of vexation does not persist. Friends lift your spirits with notes of encouragement. You have late-night study break conversations when you talk about “nothing,” but somehow it means everything to you. Selfless mentors and faculty advisers offer you feedback and broadly take an interest in what you have to say. And you will have a Sunday morning moment of realization in Lamont when all the historical documents and facts click in your head like in a scene from National Treasure. Somehow, in the end, the most taxing of academic experiences will actually make your college years the best.
Of course, academics constitute but one dimension. Over the years, you will confront a mix of conflicts related to friendships, relationships, internships, extracurriculars, principles, passions, and so much more. But with assistance from your peers, mentors, and loved ones, you can tackle any issue.
Our college years are some of our best exactly because we fight back. With the life-long friends we make and the sense of self we develop, we can face anything. But this is not the end. We will graduate better equipped to confront those challenges in life head-on and reach those peaks once more, climbing to even greater heights.