Undergraduate Speaker Sarah Abushaar | Harvard Commencement 2014

Summary

The speaker reflects on their transformative experience at Harvard, drawing parallels between the university's self-contained 'nation' and their childhood fantasies of conquest in Syria. They recount how Harvard's structures and invisible institutions fostered a vibrant social dynamism, contrasting sharply with the institutional dysfunction they witnessed in their home country. The speaker's interactions with influential figures at Harvard, such as a president, instilled a sense of empowerment and the belief that they too could shape history. They express hope for the future, inspired by the potential of their fellow graduates to initiate positive change on a global scale, not through armed conflict, but through the power of ideas and the cultivation of better institutions.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The speaker grew up in Syria with fantasies of taking over the country, which were quickly crushed by their parents' warnings of secret service and imprisonment.
• 👪 In contrast to Western children's fears of ghosts and the Boogeyman, the speaker's childhood was dominated by the fear of government surveillance and the threat of prison.
• 🕍 Upon arrival at Harvard, the speaker was struck by the idea that Harvard could be its own country, with its own institutions and symbols, much like the Vatican.
• 🏛 The speaker observed the Harvard 'nation' through its structures, such as the John Harvard statue, Harvard clubs, and the Harvard Alumni Association, as well as its invisible institutions like student debates and newspaper columns.
• 🛂 At US immigration, the speaker's Harvard affiliation was a passport to acceptance and the 'American dream', highlighting the power and prestige of the Harvard name.
• 📰 The speaker saw the vibrancy and dynamism of civil society at Harvard, which was a stark contrast to the institutional dysfunction in their parents' countries.
• 💭 The experience at Harvard provided the speaker with a model for a better world and a sense of empowerment to initiate change.
• 🎓 The speaker's first class at Harvard was a transformative moment, where they were encouraged to debate with a president, symbolizing the potential to shape history.
• 👣 The Harvard experience was likened to running barefoot, collecting experiences, ideas, and history that changed the way the speaker saw the world.
• 🌱 The speaker is hopeful for the future, inspired by the potential of the graduating class to carry their Harvard-sparked ideas into the world and create positive change.
• ☘️ The 'Harvard Spring of 2014' is seen as a global revolution, not of arms, but of minds, with the power to be more pervasive and permanent.

Q & A

What did the speaker and his brother indulge in during long taxi rides in Syria?

The speaker and his brother indulged in imperialistic fantasies of taking over the country outside their windows.

What was the speaker warned about by their parents during these fantasies?

The speaker was warned that they could be taken by the secret service if they heard their revolutionary ideas.

How did the speaker describe the Harvard community as they experienced it?

The speaker described the Harvard community as a 'Harvard Nation' with its own structures and invisible institutions, including its own version of the Statue of Liberty, embassies, tax collection agency, and diplomatic passports.

What did the speaker notice about their interactions at the US immigration at Boston Logan Airport?

The speaker noticed that when they dressed in Harvard attire, they were treated as a non-threat and welcomed to America, highlighting the perceived prestige and influence of being associated with Harvard.

What did the speaker observe about the Harvard Crimson newspaper and student debates?

The speaker observed that the Crimson newspaper and student debates were platforms for lively discussions and ideas that had the potential to influence policy changes.

How did the speaker feel about the value of civil society and living, breathing institutions after experiencing Harvard?

The speaker felt the value of civil society and living institutions acutely, contrasting it with the institutional dysfunction in their parents' countries, which stifled social dynamism and productivity.

What was the impact of the speaker's first class at Harvard where they debated with a president?

The experience made the speaker feel empowered, giving them a sense of possibility that they too could shape history, rather than just being shaped by it.

How did the speaker's name change after attending Harvard?

The speaker's name changed from 'Sarah' to 'Hey, Harvard,' reflecting the strong association and identity they developed with the institution.

What does the speaker hope to carry with them from their Harvard experience?

The speaker hopes to carry the accumulations of experiences, people, history, and ideas that changed their worldview and leave a footprint of the best they took from Harvard on their new destinations.

Why is the speaker hopeful for the future?

The speaker is hopeful for the future because of the civil conversations and generative projects they witnessed among friends from warring countries, and the potential for the graduating class to launch revolutionary ideas into the world.

What does the speaker refer to as the 'Harvard spring of 2014'?

The 'Harvard spring of 2014' refers to the graduating class of 2014, which the speaker sees as 6,000 revolutions or great ideas being sent into the world to create change, not through arms but through minds.