I need the cotton balls! That was all my three-year-old self worried about when I dropped my art supplies on the ground as my mom and I were running to catch the 96 Bus. Luckily, I saved all of them and we rushed onto the bus to school.

It’s strange I still remember this seemingly nominal event. I find it interesting that, as a bus-riding three-year-old infatuated by soft cosmetic items, I was completely oblivious to the world around me. I was the singularity in my universe. I did not see the miserable stranger sulking after breaking up, the professional going to a meeting, or the Harvard student excited to work on his research project. I was just a boy getting dropped off at daycare by his mother.

Nowadays, I do not play with cotton balls. I partially owe my growth to the presence of Harvard University. I was so honored to be a lab rat for the Center on the Developing Child. It introduced me to scientific research, and I realized the importance of myself as an individual in a healthy society. I was included in the first virtual campus tour produced by my father, and I feel old because my presence was erased by virtue of a more modern one. I am perpetually awed by the university’s innovation, but my personal connections truly made me view Harvard as a dream school. Before, it was a fantasy, in which Harvard’s power awed me but lacked a sense of reality. I had no idea I could possibly achieve anything so special. But now I believe Harvard is, instead, a “dreams can come true” school. I can be that person. This belief is not because I am the smartest, most talented, or even the most intense scholar. It is because I have a vision for my education; I know how I want to use Harvard.

I’ve spent my fair share of time around the university and the one thing that always surprises me is its humanity. Beyond the stigma and intellectual gravitas, I find Harvard students to be normal, kind human beings. I will debate, collaborate, and live with them. Their talents and insights will give me an enjoyable medium from which I may gain a comprehensive, global perspective. I learned many cultural norms while studying abroad in China from my host family and I look forward to taking in the wealth of information that Harvard students import from around the world. With the university’s incredible resources, wide range of course offerings, and the Harvard community, I will be able to first find my dream, and then mold my passions into reality. 

To me, the unique thing about Harvard is its relative location to Somerville. Although Boston, with its multitudes of opportunities, is so close to my hometown, I have noticed a “Somerville Bubble” that encapsulates the students here. The diverse youth of Somerville is disconnected with the surroundings because of my school’s welcoming nature; strangely, our differences bring us closer together. 

But this lack of exploration also comes from a lack of belief. Until my peers are exposed to what is possible, they will not do the possible. During my time at Harvard and beyond, I want to stay connected with my community. To me, having others in mind is not simply altruistic, but also a matter of personal happiness. As much as I tutor to help with math concepts, I tutor to build relationships with middle schoolers and enjoy their successes vicariously. Growth can often be associated with tutoring. I have learned to better articulate my thoughts with concise, understandable instructions. Even literal growth occurs: a quiet and shy former student who graduated to high school surprised me when he confidently broadcasted the morning announcements. I will be able to help others burst the “Somerville Bubble” by sharing my experiences, and helping them to find their own passions, 

My future occupation is uncertain, but I will find myself by learning with others. I will find my passions because I believe they exist. Now, after 14 years, I see myself on that bus, but instead of getting off at Sacramento Street, I am going all the way to Harvard Square.