14.12.2024 – From dancing at the Harvard Kennedy School Winter Ball to exploring healthcare innovation at a top-tier conference – follow me around on last week’s adventures.
Final Weeks of my First Semester at Harvard
Last week was a mix of emotions – wrapping up final assignments and celebrating the last weeks of this semester. Some of my most favorite classes like “Negotiating across Worldviews” at Harvard Law School and “Strategies for Social Impact” at Harvard Kennedy School have officially ended. and I am currently working on my final assignments for them. Sitting in the big classroom of Harvard Kennedy School for the last time this semester, a bittersweet feeling crept in. While I look forward to Christmas break, I am also aware that I have only one semester left until I graduate.
If you are interested in it, I will share more detailed experiences on some of the classes I took. Today, I want to tell you about two incredible events.
Dancing through Harvard Kennedy School Winter Ball
This ball is a cherished tradition, bringing together faculty, alumni and students to connect outside of the classroom. Beyond the beautiful dresses and formal clothing, it wasn’t as formal as I expected. Coming from Austria I envisioned a parquet floor filled with couples dancing Walz. Instead, the whole venue, which is actually a club, was reserved for dancing to modern beats. I couldn’t help it but to dance the night away, having the best time connecting with classmates and meeting new people. I have heard whispers about another HKS ball in spring – mark your calendars, because I definitely will!
Healthcare at the Tipping Point: Conference Highlights
Moving forward we have to think about the big questions: How can we make healthcare accessible to all? What role will AI play in it? How to make sure the global south also gets to benefit from innovations? Those questions were discussed at the conference “At the Tipping Point”, organized by the Healthcare Student Club at Harvard Business School, that I am a part of. Experts of the field, like John Maraganore, Neel Lakhani, and Professor Rifan Atun came together, discussing challenges and solutions for those questions. It was also super interesting to listen to some new trends in aging research, including the effects of fasting – a topic particularly interesting for me, as I enjoy the benefits of fasting!
Weekly High, Low, Buffalo & Lessons Learned
High: dancing at the Winter Ball, dinner & Christmas celebrations with friends, Healthcare Conference, getting back to my sports routine
Low: Knowing the semester is almost over
Buffalo: expectation vs. reality of the the ball
Lessons Learned: I got back to my sports routine and it is so interesting how productive I am when I prioritize my routines
Continue to let me know what you are interested in!
See you next week!
Liebe Grüße aus Boston
Sophie