In this piece, Aria Irani reflects on her journey to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, drawing on a background in counterterrorism and government, and on navigating a steep learning curve as she entered the field of education policy. She shares how imposter syndrome and comparison initially shaped her experience, but ultimately gave way to confidence through curiosity, persistence, and a growth mindset. Aria encourages prospective students to trust their ability to adapt, embrace challenges, and recognize that their unique paths are not only valid but essential to their success at HGSE and beyond.
aria irani (she/her)
This last year at HGSE has challenged me to overcome a significant learning curve in order to achieve my goals, and I am immensely grateful for it.
My name is Aria Irani, and I am a graduate student in the EPA program and the Global, International, and Comparative Education concentration at HGSE. Prior to this program, I attended American University in Washington, D.C., where I studied Counterterrorism studies and minored in Spanish.
As a result of my degree, the majority of my professional experience has centered on the government. These opportunities illuminated my interest in education’s role in reducing violent extremism, which led me to apply to the EPA program.
As I near the end of my time here, I am beginning to feel more confident in my education policy skills and knowledge. This said, it definitely took me a while to feel comfortable sitting amongst my peers in these historic classrooms. Coming from a non-education background, I spent the first few months at HGSE trying to soak up as much information as possible and keep up with my peers in this fast-paced environment.
Imposter syndrome felt all-consuming at times, and I wondered whether I would be able to adjust to this new environment. With only a year to dive into education, the task of acclimatizing to a new field felt daunting.
I had anticipated experiencing a learning curve at HGSE; the urge to compare myself to my peers was something I had not expected. Many of my peers have extensive experience teaching or working within education, whereas my own educational knowledge has been limited to my experience as a student. What has helped with comparison this year is acknowledging that everyone begins somewhere and that curiosity is instrumental in bridging the gap between expertise and inexperience.
Rather than view my lack of experience in education as a deficit, I approached this learning curve as a challenge. Using this year as an opportunity to immerse myself in a new field out of curiosity makes me excited to go to class each day. Framing my learning and time at HGSE from this perspective not only embraces a growth mindset but also allows for grace when needed.
If you are considering applying to HGSE but don’t have a background in education, I strongly encourage you to view this program as an opportunity to gain exposure to, knowledge of, and skills in a new field. Despite feeling behind at times, I am able to reflect on my progress since beginning this program. A few years ago, I would have never expected to study education policy. If I had not taken this opportunity out of fear of being inexperienced, I would have missed out on so much.
I encourage you to view this program as a way to diversify your experience and skill set, rather than as a point of comparison with others. Trust yourself to adapt to this challenge and, whenever possible, find ways to connect the content to your own background and experiences. Making connections between government and education has helped me tremendously with grasping new concepts and grounding my knowledge in the familiar.
While you may experience a learning curve at HGSE, believe in your ability to meet this challenge and show up authentically as yourself.
If there is anything I have learned from my time here, it is that no time is ever wasted. My experience studying counterterrorism and working in government was not wasted, as I changed career paths. Instead, that time in my life has allowed me to see education policy through a unique lens. Not only is each student here on their own path, but your unique background is exactly what qualifies you to succeed at HGSE.
I’m unsure what’s next for me after graduation; however, I’m finishing my last few months at HGSE with more confidence in my ability to adapt than ever. Joining a community as someone with minimal experience in the field has made me more confident in my ability to adapt, make interdisciplinary connections, and have transferable skills. Entering HGSE with an open-minded attitude and a desire to challenge yourself is something I would recommend to prospective applicants and something I will carry into my career.
Learning curves may show up differently throughout your life, but I truly believe that learning how to approach challenges with bravery and enter spaces where you are the least experienced can be extremely rewarding.
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