Finding your niche

Becoming a senior in some ways brings many unforeseen emotions. Yes, we may complain about Harvard as soul-wrenching, unbearably cold, or unfriendly, but in truth, the good outweighs all that. This institution brings some of the best minds together to just talk and fellowship with one another. That we can casually discuss lectures in a dining hall or bury ourselves in our extracurricular passions both with like-minded peers is invaluable and in all reality a phenomenon confined for most to our four years in residence. This summer I had a similar discussion on a New York train with a really good friend asking what it’s like to be a senior. I replied with an overly emotional answer about how after graduation might not see each other again as people move to different states, countries, blah blah, blah… That all may be true, but since then I’ve realized there’s still a lot we can and should do. There’s still ways to positively impact this campus and this community (however one chooses to define theirs) and it doesn’t end with graduation. So, for me, the emotions that come to mind aren’t so much centered around reminiscing about my past three years, but rather being enthused about this last year, doing what I love and realizing the blessing of finding those passions.

The active pursuit of my role on this campus didn’t start until my sophomore year when I joined the David Walker Scholars Program. For those that may not know, DWS is an afterschool mentoring program started five years ago by members of the BMF to empower young men in under-resourced African-American communities by helping them realize their agency in achieving productive goals for academic and personal success. While one of those goals might be connecting them to a community that supports their personal and academic success, I was surprised that I found the same thing. Sophomore year, I tried about ten different activities. The other two that really stuck were the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College and SoulFood. Kuumba is a place to celebrate the creativity of Black culture and spirituality. For me that was important to find here—a place where who we are as a people takes center stage and we not only discuss collective missteps (which as critical Harvard students it is easy to do, just check our email lists), but also celebrate our triumphs as a people. SoulFood has been more than just a bible study. It’s about bringing restoration to us as complex individuals. Having someone to hold me accountable by knowing when to challenge me and when to support me has kept me sane and let me grow.

So, looking into senior year, I realize I’ll miss all the things that have made Harvard so wonderful for me, but find contentment in all that is happening in these groups. DWS beginning a new site, with a new eager and highly competent board that brings fresh new ideas and purpose to the organization to better carry it forward. Kuumba is celebrating our Fortieth anniversary and while learning about the history Black-/African-American students at this college is empowering, ministering through song, dance, and prose is indescribable. SoulFood is stepping into its own as a fellowship and building a network of people that can support each other in the application of scripture rather than just its reading. I also find contentment in knowing that none of the things we do here should end here. For me it will always be important to “prove myself a man by helping to make those who are weak as strong as I through serving my community to the best of my ability” as we say in our pledge. It will always be critical to remember to build each other up with the richness of our heritage in any way I can—song or otherwise. And finally, I’ll always be grounded in my faith and remember to surround myself with people that support that decision rather than undermine it.

Best advice I’ve ever received: “Intentionality. In all that we do, we must make sure that our actions match our words and our principles.”

7,
Justin Robinson ‘10