Some advice for freshmen
“What’s the best freshman dorm?” “Which extracurriculars should I join?” “How do I talk to a TF?” “Is Primal Scream real?” These are a few of the questions I encountered over the course of my week as a leader for the First-Year Urban Program (FUP), one of the five pre-orientation programs offered to incoming freshmen at Harvard. While at times the ceaseless barrage of queries asked by my FUPpies (read: first-year students participating in FUP) was wearying, ultimately addressing them was much more than the fulfillment of a job description. It became a source of pride. I came to recognize that in these initial moments on campus, my answers had particular consequence. They had the ability to shape how my FUPpies, the newest members of the Harvard community, would perceive this place they would call home for the next four years. So as a designated mentor both for FUP week and beyond, I approached my...