In this reflection, Ryan Robinson shares how his time at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE) helped him bridge his passions for science, entrepreneurship, education, and community impact. Drawing on experiences as a quantum physicist, educator, and founder of SENSA, Ryan explores how HGSE reshaped his understanding of leadership, workplace culture, and lifelong learning.…

In this reflection, Valeria Gaviño Peña shares her journey from self-doubt and staying close to home to embracing possibility and purpose through her time at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Reflecting on her experiences as a first-generation college student, community college transfer student, and former college adviser, she explores how HGSE challenged her…

In this reflection, Sarah Tran shares her journey from educator burnout and uncertainty to rediscovering purpose and alignment through her time at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Drawing on experiences teaching abroad in Korea and Vietnam, she reflects on how community, creativity, and meaningful relationships at HGSE helped her reconnect with her vision…

In this reflection, Olivia Oestreicher shares the post-graduation opportunities that emerged directly from classroom experiences at the Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). Through coursework, guest speakers, and class assignments, she connected with leaders and institutions whose missions aligned with her interests in higher education, ultimately leading to roles with The HEA Group and Hollins…

In this piece, Danni Kim reflects on her journey to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, shaped by her background in government policy and her desire to better understand the interconnected systems that shape young people’s lives. Drawing on her experience working across education, health, and social services in Canberra, she shares how her perspective…

In this piece, Catherine Togba Woyee reflects on her journey to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, shaped by her experiences as a refugee, her upbringing in Liberia, and her commitment to expanding access to education for girls and underserved communities. She shares how education became an anchor as she navigated displacement and built a…

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…

In this piece, Magaga Enos reflects on his journey from growing up in a rural village in Muhoroni, Kenya, to becoming an Ed.M. candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, shaped by a deep commitment to community and educational equity. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience as a high school teacher at an…

In this piece, Jorie Fawcett reflects on her journey from an undergraduate student at Vanderbilt University to a graduate student at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, highlighting her evolving understanding of education beyond the classroom. At HGSE, she emphasizes the value of curiosity, self-reflection, and experiential learning through fieldwork, particularly in her current Graduate…

In this piece, Huang Zhongyang reflects on his transition from international education entrepreneur to graduate student in the Education Leadership, Organizations, and Entrepreneurship (ELOE) program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Drawing on over a decade of experience guiding students through global higher education pathways, he examines how his work prompted deeper questions about…