by Tristal N. Watson

On March 1, 2022, I received the call that I had been waiting for: Paul Reville’s voice on the other end of the line saying Congratulations! I’ll never forget him telling me I had been admitted into the Doctor of Education Leadership (Ed.L.D.) program. I was so excited to hear the good news that I went into labor the same evening! To be fair, I was almost full term and scheduled for an induction within a few days, but baby Asha decided to come all on her own to see what all the fuss was about. In the wee hours of March 2nd, my sweet little baby was born and became affectionately known as “the Harvard baby.” It was indeed a special day and one I’ll always remember.

To some, it may seem odd or even impossible to consider making a life-altering decision after having a new baby. Well, I’m of the opinion that life will sometimes give you an opportunity you simply cannot refuse. Having spent my entire life in the state of Mississippi, I knew I wanted to gain a broader perspective of the world and become a better servant leader, which led me to apply to HGSE. After serving as a tutor, teacher, coach, assistant principal, and principal, it was time for me to embark on a different journey, and my family was ready for the ride. Asha, Addyson, Alivia, Amberlyn, & Anthony said good-bye to Mississippi and hello to Massachusetts!

During the summer of 2022 when my family of six loaded our minivan and set out on our trek to Harvard, we had no idea what we should expect. The beautiful brick buildings and bumper-to-bumper traffic welcomed us to the area first, but the community we found here was the best surprise we could have ever asked for. HGSE has become a home away from home for my entire family, and I’m grateful for the new friends who have become like family in such a short amount of time.

“It takes a village”

It takes a village. This phrase is often used to describe the close-knit relationships between caring adults within a community and their dedication to uplifting and caring for its children. While most only dream of this type of network, I was lucky enough to experience it firsthand.

The village fed me, taught me, encouraged me, disciplined me, and held me to a higher standard, and though I’ve left that village back in Mississippi, I’ve created a new one right here at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). The village doesn’t just benefit children, but it’s necessary for adults, too!

Coffee & lunch dates, trips to the beach, family outings, and invitations to dine with faculty; finding a new church home, ultimate frisbee in Cambridge Common, and walks along the Charles River; indoor soccer, joint birthday parties, and the best unplanned conversations that start on the sidewalks along Appian Way and end at a table inside Felipe’s; get togethers on the deck and evening walks to Spy Pond; attending plays, lectures, and concerts with friends… These are the experiences that have made this trip worth the journey.

The community we’ve built here is flawed and imperfect, but it’s sturdy, longstanding, and has been an integral part of my experience. Thank you, HGSE, for being my village.

Tristal N. Watson is a doctoral student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) in her second year of the Ed.L.D. program. She is passionate about building up the next generation of leaders across the education sector through intentional mentorship and coaching. Prior to HGSE, Tristal served as a principal in Mississippi where she led community engagement efforts to mobilize and educate parents on best practices in literacy centered on the science of reading. Through the Parent Academy initiative both students and parents received intensive support to improve their child’s reading skills. In addition to community engagement, she led efforts to create more equitable access to the curriculum by expanding technology use and spearheading a “Grow Your Own” initiative which helped to drastically increase the teacher retention rate at her turn-around school.

During her time at Harvard, she has facilitated learning for leaders across the world through the Data Wise Institute, Achieving Excellence in Leadership (AEL) Institute, and the Urban School Leaders Institute. She also served as a research assistant for Reach Every Reader, where she partnered with Chattanooga 2.0 to create sustainable partnerships with the Chattanooga-Hamilton School District. She has also led learning as a teaching fellow for several courses and helped with the design of real world simulations to increase opportunities for perspective taking.

Her greatest inspiration comes from her four beautiful daughters: Addyson, Alivia, Amberlyn, and Asha. She strives daily to create a better life for them by creating the conditions for them to be successful and showing them that there are no limits on their dreams.