26.05.2025 – With a smile on my face and tears in my eyes, I just started packing my bags and can’t believe that it’s almost time to leave this incredible chapter of my life behind.
I was sitting on the floor, suitcase half-zipped, surrounded by the memories I had collected this year – name tags from Harvard events, pens that ran out of ink, and two diaries, filled with this year’s big and small stories. Still, I’m currently trying to deny that this chapter of my book actually comes to an end.
From My Capstone Presentation to … Absolutely Nothing
Last week I finished all my class work and gave my Capstone presentation. It was also incredible to see all the projects my cohort has worked on, and I am proud of what everyone has achieved within that time. After months of planning, strategizing, and studying, I did something I hadn’t done in a while: absolutely nothing.
I curled up in the armchair in the living room, tucked beneath my white fluffy blanket, with a cup of tea as I listened to the rain tapping against the windows. I didn’t write a to-do list, I didn’t check something off such a list, I didn’t schedule or optimize. I listened to the rain. I watched the first movie in months. I remembered what it feels like to be a human being rather than a human doing.
Exciting Next Steps Ahead
Tomorrow, I’ll pick up my loved ones from the airport, who will celebrate my graduation with me, and we’ll travel for a bit, which I look forward to!
As I’ll leave this chapter again so soon, as so often, I don’t know if I am ready for it, and I don’t know what the future will hold, but I guess this is life. I learned that I will always find a way to make it work. As I’ll walk towards my goals, which I’ll further define with every step along the way, I want to focus more on who I want to be and become along the way. I know I will move forward with ambition. However, I only truly perceive it as moving forward when I get closer to myself along the way.
Leaving a Second Home
Within the last weeks and months, Boston has become a home. Through the memories made, my friends, and the people who cheered me on from the start, my friend Ayesha’s family, who also feels like family to me now and cares for me with so much love, soup when I was sick, and homemade cakes—the gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free special version for me.
For now, all that is left to say is thank you – to my family, my loved friends, Harvard, Boston, everyone who made this journey possible and so special, and my younger version who followed her dreams. And of course, to you readers who are following my journey from all over the world! Down for a little trip? Next week, I’ll be writing from the road. I hope you’ll join me there.
High, Low, Buffalo's & Lessons Learned
High: Celebrating life and all our achievements with everyone
Low: Am I actually leaving in three days??
Buffalo: Everyone will throw their caps, but will I ever catch mine again? (Should have practiced, maybe)
Lessons Learned: Humans are “built” to learn. We learn through engaging with materials, people, and life, but there are certain things that we will only learn from sitting in silence