The start that comes with aid
The room was filled with powerful political operatives. These were the people who managed the campaigns of the 2012 presidential election, and they were shoulder-to-shoulder with Jasmine Burnett ’16. “Never in my life did I ever think I would be in the same room with these people. But there I was, and there was [former White House presidential adviser] David Axelrod,” said Burnett, who is on the special events committee at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. “You hear a lot about the resources that Harvard has, and the incredible opportunities that are here. Until you come here and until you experience it all, I don’t think you really realize … the opportunities that are here waiting for you.” While Burnett has always nurtured an interest in politics, she never dreamed she would come to Harvard College. A native of Atlanta, she didn’t initially consider applying to the school. “My mom told me from a...