Decades in the making

Yesterday, I walked across the stage at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, marking the completion of my undergraduate studies. It was a spectacular day, decades in the making, that almost never happened.

If you’d told me even ten years ago that I’d return to school as an adult, never mind that I’d participate in commencement ceremonies in Harvard Yard, I’d have laughed you out of the room. When I was younger, I loved to read and learn, but only on my own terms, which made me a terrible student. My early academic journey left me frustrated and unsure of the value of higher education, convinced I could be the next college dropout-turned-startup-success story.

Reflecting back on my nontraditional path, I can say I wasn’t totally wrong. It’s been both challenging and rewarding, and I’ve built a career I’m extremely proud of, though there’s always been that voice in the back of my head telling me that something was missing.

As it turns out, I’m not actually a terrible student; I’m just someone whose brain works a little differently. The last twenty years have seen me grow into a different person, better at time management and at juggling everything life and a career can throw at me. This growth brought me to the Harvard Extension School, where I am so proud to say I graduated cum laude, earning a Bachelor of Liberal Arts with a field of study in Computer Science and a minor in Legal Studies.

Right up until I walked across the stage, I wasn’t sure it felt real. Now, I can look back with pride on the late nights and weekends, on the papers and projects completed on planes, trains, and hotel-room desks. This has been such a transformative journey that has allowed me to rediscover my passion for learning.

I’m so thankful to the Extension School for making a Harvard education accessible to everyone, to the professors whose instruction has changed the trajectory of my life and career (more to come on that soon), and to my classmates with whom studying and celebrating our achievements together has been the experience of a lifetime.

Originally shared on LinkedIn.