Charting a different course
Most Harvard College graduates can trace a fairly straight line from Opening Days in their freshman fall to Commencement in their senior spring. But for some, there were unexpected twists and turns along the way. Faced with opportunities or obstacles, they chose a different path. Reylon Yount ’16-’17 was one of 100 students to be honored last Friday at the Midyear Graduates Recognition Ceremony in the Student Organization Center at Hilles. For Yount, the fork in the road was a rare chance to pursue two of his passions: music performance and environmental science. Yount, who has achieved international renown for his artistry on the yangqin, or Chinese hammered dulcimer, spent time away from Harvard during his sophomore year to perform as a featured soloist with the Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by two internships in Australia studying fisheries management and algae biofuels. Though it meant postponing his graduation until December, he is...