How did you fit your education into your life?
Harvard Extension School’s flexible course offerings were key for students like me who have demanding careers, lives and families. I was able to find class sessions that met after my work day so I never needed to miss a lecture or work. Asynchronous classes were a boon for this, too, thanks to well organized course content and office hours. Even exams were on a flexible schedule!
I live on the east coast of the U.S. so I chose my on-campus courses over long weekends so as to minimize their impact on life and work. An added bonus was that I got to see the campus in all seasons except winter.
How has your Harvard Extension School experience helped you throughout your career journey?
My industry is going through a major disruption right now so the content in my courses was immediately relevant. I better understand why leadership makes the decisions it does and what I can do as a people manager to make change easier for my team.
What did you learn about your own capabilities through the rigor of your coursework?
I didn’t realize how much discipline and grit I was capable of until I started at Harvard Extension School. I have had to sacrifice a significant number of evenings and weekends over three years, but it was important because my now-14-year-old was watching. I wanted to set an example of life long-learning for him.
Was there a turning point or moment during your experience at HES that changed how you see yourself or your future?
I started off unsure and deeply in awe of other students but slowly found my voice by my fourth class. Thanks to Harvard Extension School, I had the safety to both ask questions and take my time understanding the responses, which has made me a more thoughtful and confident person.
What does earning a Harvard degree mean to you?
In the beautiful words of Professor Teo Nicolais, I am forever a part of Harvard’s story and Harvard is forever a part of my story.
What was the expectation you had of Harvard? How did it live up? How did it differ?
I expected Harvard Extension School to be rigorous and difficult, and it was. But it also taught me the importance of critical thinking, curiosity and listening. There is freedom in learning at Harvard and it is a very special thing.
Describe your Extension experience in one word.
Incredible!
