How did the accessibility or flexibility of HES help you in your journey?
When I decided to pursue a master’s degree, I wasn’t in a position to attend an in-person school.
I was working full-time during the day and living in an area that didn’t provide any options for local graduate schools in journalism, my desired field of study.
HES allowed me to take classes completely online, in the evenings, and from my home.
Collaborating with such a wide range of people was really rewarding, and everyone there was so excited about learning and growing.
Then, less than two months after starting, COVID-19 hit. Because my HES classes were already online, I didn’t have the huge adjustment to virtual learning that students at other schools went through.
I did, however, learn how to conduct interviews and report stories entirely virtually, which has proven to be an invaluable skill.
Toward the end of my HES journey, I packed up everything and moved across the country mid-semester. My professors were understanding and flexible, allowing me early access to the assignments due the week of my move so that I could complete them beforehand and not while I was on the road.
What was your capstone project?
I wrote my capstone articles about families, specifically people who don’t want children, as well as other “nontraditional” families.
As a childfree person myself, I was able to research a topic that I was very interested in, as well as help to educate others on the topic. I met so many interesting people throughout my research, which also helped me network in the new city that I’d just moved to.
What’s something unexpected that you learned about Harvard?
The existence of HES itself was a surprise to me. I had no idea that Harvard offered continuing education for people who worked full-time.
When I decided to pursue a master’s degree, I wasn’t in a position to attend an in-person school. HES allowed me to take classes completely online, in the evenings, and from my home.
When I was younger, I didn’t have the means to ever consider applying to Harvard, so to learn that I could now — without having to leave my job and move to Cambridge — was very exciting.
What are you going to miss the most about HES?
I’m going to miss the people the most. While at HES, I met both students and professors from all around the world, from different backgrounds, in different industries, and with so many different interests.
Collaborating with such a wide range of people was really rewarding, and everyone there was so excited about learning and growing.
Describe your HES experience in one word.
Growth.
