02.06.2025
The tassel has turned, the cap flown, and the diploma safely packed in Mom’s suitcase – I guess I graduated!
Last week was a colorful mix of unforgettable moments – the kind you want to bottle up forever: photo shoots, lots of coffee, back-to-back graduation ceremonies, heartfelt hellos to my family, and teary goodbyes to my friends and apartment in Boston. Some moments feel already eternal when they happen – graduation week was full of those moments.
Putting on my Regalia (And Reality)
Monday was filled with a delicious lunch with friends from my cohort and packing, which felt a bit like the calm before the Commencement Storm.
On Tuesday, I slipped into my regalia for our class photo shoot for the first time.
It felt bizarre – it meant the time had come: no more rushing up the stairs into the halls of Harvard Medical School, no more 11:58 assignment submissions, and the joyful buzz before class no more than memories behind those walls.
Graduation marked the end of my journey at Harvard, of this familiar rhythm. I had just finished my Capstone presentation, and suddenly it was all done. It was like an abrupt stop after a long run. I was somehow ready for it, and yet not quite. While I look forward to applying what I’ve learned “in the real world,” I could have studied for a lifetime at Harvard and would still not have fulfilled my curiosity.
Life vs. Plans (Spoiler – Life Wins)
Sometimes when I make a plan, life comes along, smirks, and says, “What plans”?
Fresh off the class photo shoot, I jumped on the bus to pick up my family from the airport. Simple, right? Well, it could have been if I hadn’t enthusiastically jumped on the wrong bus, going in the opposite direction. My new strategy: I just needed to catch the correct bus back—if the bus ever showed up. In a moment of defeat, I called a Lyft, which immediately got stuck in traffic.
Instead of my waiting for my family at the airport, my family waited for me. After 2 hours, I made it there too, and finally got to hug my mom, sister, and good friend Meli, who – lucky me – came all the way from Austria to celebrate my graduation with me! End of story? Nope, of course my phone contract and internet decided to stop working for exactly those 20 minutes, I tried to call us a Lyft away from the airport… I guess this was a gentle reminder of life, once again, that not everything can be planned, at the perfect time, as I am planning my future steps.
Wednesday: Harvard Medical School Graduation
Under my regalia, I wore my “Dirndl,” a traditional Austrian dress, to express appreciation for where I come from, the support I’ve received, and gratitude for how far I’ve come. No matter where I live and where I go, I always carry my deep love for my home, not just the wonderful place, but also the loved ones who’ve built it and make it home for me.
Day 1 was hosted at Harvard Medical School and included the moving keynote by author and journalist Linda Villarosa. What a beautiful day with my friends and family. Oh, I also got my diploma (surprisingly in Latin – fortunately with translation in the back!). We ended the day with a dinner for my cohort and our families. It was a beautiful opportunity to finally meet the loved ones of those I grew close to.
Thursday: Harvard Yard Commencement
After a late night on Wednesday, I met my family at Harvard Square at 6 a.m. on Thursday. As so often the year before, I showed up bleary-eyed, a cup of coffee in hand, but with a full heart and deep gratitude to be there.
The ceremony was incredibly inspiring. I found myself among the Harvard Class of 2025, thousands of graduates, most of whom equally believe in possibility and in change as I do, and are guided by their hope for contributing to a better future, as I am.
After several long but beautiful days of celebrations, I got to spent a perfect post-graduation evening with my family and my friend Meli: fried rice, chips, and berries in bed with my (or actually mom’s) PJ’s on, as I had locked myself out of my appartment and couldn’t change into my clothes – another hint from life on plans – or to bring my keys with me when I leave the house.
What Comes Next
While this chapter has closed, a new one awaits. Before I roll up my sleeves and dive into what’s next, which I am genuinely excited for, I’m taking a few weeks to travel with people I love; a moment to reflect and pause, and a little adventure before the new big adventure.
I’m currently in Acadia National Park so stay tuned for stories and pictures next week!
High, Low, Buffalo & Lessons Learned
High: Standing in a sea of graduates, all celebrating our achievements, with this magical spark of belief in possibility and hope in the air, and having my loved ones here. So many moments I won’t ever forget.
Low: Saying goodbye to my friends here, the memories I made, and in a way to a version of myself was difficult.
Buffalo: Somehow, I don’t quite realize yet that I actually graduated. A part of me still feels like going to class next week.
Lessons Learned: Life has its own plans, and all we can do is constantly adapt, step by step. Also, in the crowd at Harvard Yard, I realized something deeper: the power of belief. Change starts with believing in the possibility of change, with hope. Without that, change doesn’t happen.
Until next week!
Liebe Grüße aus Acadia
Sophie