HDS communications reached out to our 2021 graduating students to hear from them in their own words about their experiences at HDS, the people who've helped and inspired them along their grad school journeys, and their plans for the future.
Reflection and Message of Thanks
Some words for 2020 from a foreigner in 2021: Today, far removed from the chaos of late last year, seems to have returned to calm, the new government's actions have been remarkable, leaving me with a refreshing sense of the resilience of democracy.
During last year's Covid-19 pandemic, I often felt deeply powerless and even attributed it to the failure of our human nature. However, maybe my thoughts at that time were just because I was too young and had come from a society that is more accustomed to meritocratic paternalism, I never really paid attention to and thought about social issues like racism, xenophobia, or general election.
But having lived through the "state of exception" of 2020, I feel that something subtle has changed in my understanding of people—I feel that they have power: ordinary people can make mistakes, but they also have the ability to try to correct them and move on to a better path if we really give people the chance to practice the wisdom of democracy.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic almost robbed me of the campus life I had hoped for, it made me grow up to experience the warmth and fury of American society in this era so truly.
I want to thank everyone who has supported me this past year, especially the Harvard Divinity School professors, students, staff, and my dearest classmates. You are my good comrades and make my life grow.
Favorite Class or Professor
Professor Michael Jackson and Professor Kimberley Patton