My experience as a Cuban immigrant brought me a very concrete idea of change after moving to the United States. I came to believe that any other life-altering event from then on would have little significance relative to the impact that had produced on me—if it wasn’t a huge change, then it was no change at all.

After this summer, however, my idea of change has become much more abstract and realistic. In the past two months only, I have found myself living in three different locations for extended periods of time: Cambridge, Miami and New York. I have found myself making the transition from the life of a student into the life of a worker and again into the life of a daughter and sister. Even now as I write my final ACT entry, a pile of luggage sits in the corner of my bedroom, awaiting the next back-to-school flight tomorrow morning.

I have to admit that I underestimated the degree of mobility that has invaded all aspects of my life. In college, everything from social relationships to housing arrangements are always varying. A college student has the flexibility to drop and add courses, to fly to countries through study-abroad programs, to switch majors and career tracks. As an intern, I experienced no less change. I worked in several different departments at different times with different responsibilities and supervisors. At home, I am no longer the oldest daughter to my parents but rather their best friend and confidante.

For a young student or professional living in the United States, change has become an unavoidable phenomenon, and as a foreign and immature student, my initial reaction to this phenomenon was resistance. In the same way that I yearned to return to Cuba during the first months of my stay in this country, I never had faith in my possibilities to attend a school like Harvard or to secure an internship so early into my college career. I never saw myself abandoning my parents at 18 years of age either, or abandoning the idea to pursue a major in economics and instead embrace history and literature as my main educational choices. But I soon learned that my resistance did not translate into dislike for the outcome of change, but rather into fear of venturing into the unknown.

All my new experiences have taught me to appreciate the importance of any transformation. I have learned indeed, that though there can be growth without change, there cannot be change without growth. I have learned that change is bound to be positive as long as I myself am the driver of that change and as long as I pursue it with conviction and enthusiasm. Today I can faithfully say that I have matured into a better student and person. Had it not been for the varying path of my steps, though, I would have remained stagnant and ignorant of the boundless opportunities that have been presented to me and from which I have tried to pick carefully.

I begin my sophomore year in college with the same innocent illusion I had when I first crossed Harvard’s gates into its beautiful yard. I am ready to confront the awaiting novel experiences with optimism and courage, trusting that I already have gathered the tools to make them successful ones. It is my hope that through my entries, through all the different occurrences I have narrated, I have conveyed to you the same passion towards life that I now feel, when I am finally able to value all life’s sides, and not just the bright one. Because even a negative change can contribute to growth, and growth itself is the ultimate reason to be happy.

Time has flown by. I’m already halfway through my internship. In five more weeks, I will be going back to Miami and having a few days of vacation before I return to school in mid-September.

The clock always seems to rush when you have a packed schedule. My days at the office get quicker and quicker as I acquire many new responsibilities and have to multitask in order to meet all deadlines. Lately, I have been engaged in different projects at the same time. I have continued doing research on after-school recreation opportunities for medically fragile children. This involves conducting interviews with the staff at the office, which has enabled me to meet many new faces. Although I was formally introduced to all the staff members on my first day of work, it has been difficult to hold conversations with each since there are more than 100 employees at New Alternatives for Children. The other project I’ve been assigned to is the coordination of a new recreation program for children with a risk of obesity. I’ve had fun preparing activities that would increase the group’s awareness of nutrition and fitness and at the same time make the instruction entertaining. I also just finished typing a report about the organization’s unmet legal needs to request pro bono assistance from JPMorgan Chase attorneys, a leading law firm in the country. It was a great experience accompanying my supervisor to their offices on Wall Street and meeting with them. I was expecting an intimidating room full of men in suits with serious looks. So I was no less than surprised to find an all-woman group of attorneys waiting for us in a beautiful conference room whose windows displayed a view of a thousand skyscrapers.

This is my first authentic professional experience. In the past, I’ve had to deal with very different work environments, which were not really a huge departure from the regular activities I had to complete in school. During my junior year in high school, for example, I interned at a local hospital for a few months. That was the time when I was convinced I would be a doctor. Although it was a very prestigious hospital, my assignments weren’t particularly challenging. I was always running errands, transporting laboratory equipment. I’d had similar duties as a student volunteer for many of the high school clubs in which I was involved. When I joined the ACT staff as a student writer, there was much more complexity. As well as submitting quality writing, I had to meet specific deadlines and have the self-motivation and discipline to organize my own schedule. Nonetheless, the flexibility of being a virtual writer and not dealing with other ACT employees on a day-to-day basis made the work a bit unrealistic; now I know that public relations is a key component of the job environment. The same applies to the several translation jobs I have completed for the Harvard Student Agencies, when my responsibilities did not go beyond receiving documents via e-mail, translating them from English into Spanish, or vice versa, and sending them back the same way.

I’ve realized that my internship requires specific skills. First, since its focus group is children with disabilities, familiarity with this population is a plus. When I was applying for the intern position, I made sure to include in my application the different experiences I’d had with disabled children, such as volunteering for a therapeutic horseback-riding center on Saturdays. I realized that modifying my resume to target the subtleties of the job is extremely important. Another very helpful skill for this internship is knowledge of basic technology—everything from a thorough understanding of Microsoft Office to fast typing. Speaking both English and Spanish has been helpful as well. My bilingualism allows me to reach out to our Spanish-speaking clients and perform direct service. Inside the office, dealing exclusively with paperwork, you run the risk of desensitizing from the true goals of the job. Because of my many experiences in student organizations, where I’ve worked my way up from member into board positions, I’ve learned that more effective leadership emerges from understanding the building blocks of the group, from doing hands-on work. Realizing this has allowed me to remain focused both in college and now during my internship. But perhaps the most important skills to have as a beginner in any professional field are diligence, independence and a willingness to learn. Looking back, I can recall precise events that helped me acquire these. Taking the most rigorous courses, for example, taught me to work fast without sacrificing quality, since I had to complete loads of homework in a very short amount of time and still secure the best grades. Enrolling in Internet courses and working for ACT taught me self-discipline and independence, since I didn’t have a teacher or direct supervisor present to orient me at all times or check continuously on my schedule and rate of assignment completion. But I was responsible for completing the work. I guess that the willingness to learn is a personal trait, and intensifies when you’re satisfied with what you’re doing. Because I’ve picked the courses that truly interested me and because I’ve loved every job I’ve had, the willingness to set higher standards every time and learn from every mistake hasn’t been a difficult task for me.

Working a summer internship is an important decision to make. It constitutes a big time commitment and doesn’t allow lots of spare time to rest from the rough college days. That’s why many of my classmates aren’t working this summer and instead are traveling around the world, for example. But I highly recommend taking advantage of the opportunity to become an intern. After only a month, I can already appreciate all the knowledge I’ve gained, both professionally and socially. I don’t doubt that I will pursue this same activity next summer and thus continue exploring my career interests and developing a stronger work ethic.

Not even in my wildest dreams when I was younger did I picture myself leaving my office IN MANHATTAN and walking back to my home IN MANHATTAN—not to mention encountering such stupefying things as the Empire State Building during my daily walk.

This is the last day of my first week as a summer intern at New Alternatives for Children, Inc. (NAC), located in New York City. I arrived on Sunday accompanied by my father, who refused to let his little girl get lost in the crazy streets and skyscrapers of Spiderman. That night, he dropped me off at a very nice residence in the upper east side of Manhattan, where all 11 nonprofit interns from Harvard College would be staying. I’m fortunate to have found an internship program that provided free housing. For most students, the pay for any job or internship, especially in New York, does not include housing, and they are forced to use most of their earnings to meet lodging expenses. That can be quite high in the city. When I set foot in the apartment building for the first time, I was glad I’d spent extra time doing summer-internship research until I found the right one. I live on the seventh floor, and it all feels like a college dorm again. There are hallways with rooms on both sides and shared bathrooms, kitchens, gyms and other facilities. The best feature of the place, however, is its close proximity to the subway station.

I had heard horror stories about the New York public transportation system. My father was so apprehensive that he refused to let me walk alone to my office on the first day of work. But everything turned out to be more relaxed than we thought. Although the subway here is definitely crazier than the inoffensive Boston “T,” it’s still very clean and smooth. I haven’t encountered any problems with any passengers, and I’ve always arrived at my destinations on time.

But there’s a little bit of walking to do from the train station to my office. Now I understand why, compared to the people in Miami, people in New York look so much skinnier. Everyone walks everywhere here. New Yorkers pack the streets and sidewalks at all times in the city that indeed never sleeps. On my way to work every morning, I’m amazed at how many different faces I meet every second, and at how many different accents I notice from random cell-phone conversations, often interrupted by the horn-honking of impatient Yellow Cab drivers.

At NAC, I leave the urban noise behind and at last find a quiet environment that is nonetheless fascinating. This nonprofit organization has been serving children with disabilities and chronic illnesses for decades. Through a variety of programs that include preventive services and foster care, the staff at NAC has built a reputation as protector of disabled youth and their families in the New York area.

The job setting is much different from the college classroom, and definitely different from high school. I was able to notice even on the first day. When my supervisor saw that I was turning my cell phone off, she smiled saying that it was not necessary. In a professional environment, workers are trusted to be diligent and responsible, and not to engage in unexcused personal phone conversations. But if a personal emergency arises, then the worker can very well pick up the call. The greater trust, of course, comes with greater responsibility.

I work eight hours each day, starting at 9 a.m., from Monday to Friday. My main duty is to advance efforts toward the creation of after-school recreation programs for disabled children in New York City. So far, I’ve been engaged in the research required for the position paper that I’ll have to write eventually. But I’ve also had time to meet the staff of about 100 people and to tour the facilities. Everyone has been extremely warm and welcoming. I’ve enjoyed sitting with older co-workers to chat about their college experiences and about their professional experience so far. Because I’ve shown interest, my supervisor has even invited me to a lunch with JP Morgan attorneys, and another co-worker has offered to put me in touch with professionals in the international development field.

I’ve learned that even the subtlest things matter at work. Personal appearance, for example, is crucial. Things such as eloquence and visible enthusiasm can also take you a long way. Having the initiative to introduce yourself to strangers and initiate an intelligent conversation speaks of determination and interest and expands your social circle. I have tried to have lunch with other employees most days and to offer my help whenever I felt it was needed. At the same time, addressing others by their first name and avoiding generic interactions demonstrates consideration and attention. Because I’ve been careful not to forget these guidelines, I’ve had a very fruitful experience so far.

But I can’t wait for the weekend. There are so many interesting things going on in New York that I am determined to participate in as many as I can. This morning, for example, Enrique Iglesias gave a FREE concert at the Rockefeller Center. Unfortunately, it was at 7 a.m., and I was unable to attend. However, there are many other opportunities to have fun and get to know the city. There will be free concerts and plays at Central Park weekly. At Bryant Park, there is a series of free movie showings as well. I’m excited to visit Spanish Harlem also, where there will be many salsa artists.

As you can tell, I have a busy summer ahead of me, but somehow I can’t wait to return to Cambridge in the fall. New York is a fascinating city, but I can’t see myself living here in the future. It is indeed surprising that a young Cuban woman feels more attached to cold New England than to the charismatic and legendary Big Apple.

The end of my first year in college has arrived amidst so much craziness that I haven’t even had time to realize that in just three days I will be returning home. The last few nights have been work-intensive. I usually head to the library after dinner and stay there until the early hours of the morning, finishing written assignments and going over my notes for the final exams. It’s amazing seeing so many people powering through the night in the library rooms, as if this routine were completely natural. The library café serves lattes and croissants until very late, and many of us gather there for mini breaks and mutual encouragement.

However, it probably would have been wiser not to invert my sleeping schedule so drastically. After all, I will be taking my finals in the morning, and I will need to have adjusted myself to be the most energized and efficient at that time. I guess I’m going to have to stop drinking so much coffee. I’ve associated its taste with study time, and now I can’t have one without the other.
At Harvard, finals consist of exams or papers, depending on the course. For Macroeconomics, I again will have to sit through three hours of stress answering multiple-choice questions and short essay prompts. I already have reread all the chapters and articles with material that this exam will test.
The day before, I’ll be completing the take-home exam for my literature course on Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar. My professor has asked us to sign a document expressing our compliance with the academic honor code. This basically states that the students will not consult any class material or classmate for reference while taking the test. When I first arrived in college, this proof of trust really affected me, since I never was exposed to it in high school. It really forces students to reflect on the maturity and discipline that are expected from them.
There are no final exams for my Speech-Making or Expository Writing classes. For the first I instead had to deliver an original speech before a large audience. It was an amazing experience, despite the nervousness I had. Now I’m much more comfortable addressing large crowds and distinguishing the right volume, pace, and tone to convey my messages more effectively. In many of the interviews and presentations I had this year, I really appreciated having strengthened this skill. For Expos, I had to submit today a 10-page research paper on the topic of women, politics, and authority. Although the assignments were very challenging, this probably was my favorite class. I’d never taken a course that focused solely on writing, and I was even skeptical about whether writing could be taught effectively without a literature analysis component, as is often the case in English classes. But not only did my writing improve tremendously, even my voice and style became more academic. I remember that in high school the prompts on tests awakened much more floweriness and metaphorical writing in me, allowing me to focus on the creative and not the expository aspect of my work. Academic papers, however, are entirely different, and the process of selecting and citing sources effectively requires much practice.
As I share my current end-of-the-year experiences, I remember that around this same time a year ago, I was a completely different person. The Maria I was in high school was much more fast-paced, always feeling stressed, and worrying about the least detail. I had not even graduated and I already was picking the courses for the fall in college, and thinking that living away from Cuban food and a warm climate would be unbearable.
It is incredible how much change I have undergone. I still am driven, and always busy, and definitely fast-paced, especially when I speak, as my friends would tell you. But during this year, far away from my parents, adjusting to independence, I have realized that most of the time the worries and stress are not worth it. This year I finally came to understand what being a “scholar” means. It has nothing to do with anxiety. In high school, I never had time to read a good book, to exercise, to hang out on the weekends with friends and enjoy their conversation. I deprived myself of much entertainment, thinking that it would obstruct my academic goals, but now I realize that the true scholar, the true Renaissance woman, values much more than pure academics.
It is not even about extracurriculars, community service, and the typical recipes for high-school success. I am talking about picking up a good book, doing gardening, researching on the most bizarre topics just to satisfy curiosity, reading the daily newspaper, and exercising a bit. I am talking about sleeping at least eight hours a night, and maintaining a healthy diet, and watching a good movie on Friday night with parents instead of going out to a club or staying awake all night reading for an American History quiz.
I’m certainly not pretending to write my own “How to…” list, or to play the part of the experienced college girl, but I just wish that someone in high school had spoken to me frankly and opened my eyes to all that I was missing, limiting my learning to what class curricula demanded.
Next year I will return much more prepared to face the challenges of sophomore year. Working in New York all summer, I expect to make new friendships and acquire a new professional perspective, both of which will be valuable assets. Not being home for the summer will be very sad, and this is why many of my freshman friends have decided to go back to their hometowns and study or work there. But I had to take advantage of the job opportunity, and my parents support me.
The only thing separating me from summer now is finals. On Saturday, after finishing Econ at last, four big FedEx boxes will be awaiting in my room, ready for winter coats, books, and school supplies for storage. When I move into the upper-class houses next year, I will miss my little room with its high skylight and view. After all, it was the first room that I was able to maintain surprisingly organized without my mom’s help. It was also the witness to a few sleepless nights, and my refuge in the cold days of winter. I guess that my attachment to it just shows that Harvard really has become a second home.

It’s such a beautiful day today. The yard is green again and the trees have started to bloom. Walking to breakfast this morning, I truly enjoyed the warmth and sunlight of the newly arrived spring. Everybody is outside today, wearing shorts, playing frisbee, and watching playful squirrels on campus.

This weekend, Harvard welcomed the students admitted into the class of 2011 in its annual prefrosh celebrations. Since we have about 1,000 visitors every year, current students volunteer to host them in the freshman dorms and upper-class houses, and I was happy to host two girls. They both arrived Friday night, one from California and the other from New York. It has been fun showing them around campus and answering their questions. I had forgotten how overwhelming the college process seems at the beginning, when one might be misled by stereotypes and uninformed comments. For example, the girls were worried about an elitist attitude in Harvard students and about being able to make close friendships in a relatively large campus. I told them that the majority of the people I have met here are actually very humble and friendly, and encouraged them to go to scheduled events on their own so that they could meet other prefrosh students and find out for themselves. I also told them that in a large campus it is actually easier to meet people. Since the class is bigger and there is a wider range of interests represented, one is bound to find a niche.

For the next day or two, the girls will be attending mixers, panel discussions, and special performances put together for this weekend. Although I probably will join them for a meal or two, I want to make sure that they have the independence to meet other students, explore Cambridge, and not feel attached to my own schedule.

The nice weather and weekend festivities have somewhat served to counteract the sorrow that filled our university last week, when students at Virginia Tech were brutally assassinated. I had just come back to my dorm from class when I went online and my homepage automatically took me to the New York Times. I couldn’t believe the headlines I was reading. Minutes after, my father called and asked if everything was O.K. He and my mom had just watched the news on T.V. Soon, in dorms, bathrooms, and hallways, all you could hear were conversations about the shooting. In every face there was an expression of insecurity, and our discussions reflected a deep solidarity with the Virginia Tech community.

When such horrible events take place, the consequences inevitably spread across many boundaries, and the pain is felt by all. As soon as our school was informed of the events, the president of the Harvard Student Council got in touch with the president of Virginia Tech and offered him all our support. On Thursday, more than 200 students gathered at the steps of our Memorial Church for a candlelight vigil in memory of those who died. The Harvard University Health Services and Bureau of Student Counsel also held drop-in hours for anyone who wanted to speak to a counselor about the tragedy and its impact.

Personally, I was certainly shocked by this massacre. I have always felt very secure at Harvard. Although ours is a very open campus that welcomes tourists at all times, there are police officers around and emergency phones in many areas. We also have shuttles that run at late hours to take students around campus so they do not have to walk by themselves when it’s dark. Security measures definitely played a part in my college decision. However, now I am conscious that some tragedies are unpredictable, and that despite all the caution you may take, there is always risk.

But we cannot become overly fearful or paranoid, because that is precisely what aggressors want to achieve. They aim to create a culture of permanent alarm. You’re better off being cautious without neglecting opportunities for happiness. I am sure that now many parents and students will question the idea of colleges far away from home, but that should not be the case. What happened at Virginia Tech is the exception and not the rule, and with this precedent, I’m sure that security measures will be enhanced throughout the country.

From now on, my roommates and I have decided to be even more conscious of our safety. Before, we used to leave the door to our room open when going out into the hallway bathroom. Now we make sure to take our keys with us at all times and leave the door locked. These little things can make a big difference. Aside from that, though, we have decided not to let panic or excessive fear take over. As long as there is life, we feel that we might as well live it to the fullest, enjoying every second for us and for those who did not have the chance to enjoy them.

Walking out of the first Economics midterm of the year, I felt as stress-free as I’ve felt in a long time. I let my mind wander and think about going home next week for Spring Break, knowing I still had a lot of work to do before going home to Miami.

This month I’m particularly satisfied about completing plans for a few short-term projects. For example, my search for summer activities had been an anxious one. I wasn’t sure whether an internship, a job, or a study-abroad program would be the ideal way to spend my three-month break. In the end, I decided on an internship. This won’t be as rigorous as a job, but it nonetheless will provide me with pre-professional experience. And I can always study abroad later. I’ll be interning for a nonprofit organization in New York City that helps underserved children. Specifically, I’ll be helping influence public policy and writing advocacy papers, which will be useful training for my career aspirations in corporate law and business administration. Besides, I’ve never been to New York City before, and the opportunity to live there for an extended period of time is exciting.

In the short term, I’ll be working for the Harvard Admissions Office during Spring Break. The department is affiliated with a minority recruitment project, and they hired me to visit several schools in the Miami area and deliver presentations about the opportunities at Harvard and college life in general. I’m enthusiastic about this project, since it serves students who many times aren’t aware of flexible financial aid and affirmative action programs that make higher education possible. And because the majority of the population this project serves is immigrant, I believe that my contribution, as someone who also came to this country recently, will encourage prospective college students.

I also recently became a member of the Harvard College Consulting Group. With so many student organizations on campus, you have to learn to be selective so you don’t stretch yourself so much that you lose sight of priorities. What’s appealing about this group is its hands-on approach. It offers consulting services to small businesses in Cambridge, as well as to student groups and nonprofits. As a case analyst, I’m assigned to a team with specific responsibilities. I not only perform research and come up with viable strategies, but also help implement strategies. The last couple of weeks I’ve been busy attending training sessions covering our responsibilities within the organization, in public relations, and in the field of consulting.

I’ve also spent time rehearsing with the salsa dance team for an upcoming show and attending kickboxing and aerobics classes. I’ve learned to dedicate myself to only those activities that are fun and positive. In high school, there was a culture of joining extracurricular activities for the sake of a resume or prestige. Here in college, I feel like there’s more room to explore vocations and authentic interests, as trivial as these might be. For example, I’m not ashamed of setting aside two hours tomorrow to take part in the annual trivia contest with the complimentary pizza party. And I’m certainly not ashamed of finally deciding to open an account with Netflix—or of choosing Mary Poppins as my first delivery.

I’ll write again in a month, after Spring Break and my college presentations in Miami.

It was after midnight last night when I decided to take a break from my macroeconomics reading about mutual funds. Coffee mug in hand, I walked barefoot toward the large, old wooden windows, where I met the reflection of my Caribbean silhouette on the humid, frozen glass. There I stood almost in trance, shocked, unbelieving, in awe before the sight of my very first snowstorm, falling on an already iced, snow-white Prescott Street.

This morning the romanticism of snowflakes turned into frustrated efforts to remain dry on my way to Econ. Harvard Yard was a chaos of umbrellas and jumping students trying to avoid sinister puddles and brown inches of slush. I was wearing average black leather boots, thinking that this would suffice to surmount the mountains of swow and slush I encountered everywhere. But it didn’t take long before I was shivering, toes soaked, and dealing with an intrusive wind and melting snow covering all sidewalks. I had to walk to the nearest store and get myself some boots, in this case, the ugliest 100-percent rubber boots that made me look like a firefighter. Turned into a fashion disaster, but happily dry, I was able to defy weather conditions on my way to the library after class.

The studying marathon of second semester still hasn’t begun. The beginning of every semester is slow-paced, focusing primarily on reading assignments. Essays and problem sets usually arrive a couple of weeks later, after the deadline for adding and dropping courses.

This semester I am far more oriented toward my major and its requirements. After having explored various departments and fields of concentrations in the fall, I now am pretty sure I will major in history and literature with an emphasis on the United States and Latin America. This is Harvard’s oldest concentration and requires the writing of a thesis during senior year. Coming from a culture where practical disciplines were the most common path for professionals, my parents found it somewhat difficult to understand the validity of my academic choice. A doctor and an engineer, they expected me to do something more practical, such as economics. However, the purpose of a liberal arts college is not to provide a pre-professional background. Instead, it cultivates the student in all academic areas, stressing analysis and thought process more than knowledge of a particular field. The history and literature major will prove very valuable in helping me polish writing skills, understand primary sources, and acquire a more global perspective. These attributes will serve me well in the future, when I pursue a career in law, where the ability to reason and write flawlessly are most important.

This semester, the four classes I’m taking are oriented toward this path. They are a Spanish literature course about Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar, a freshman seminar on political speech-making and the language of American democracy, macroeconomics, and the required expository writing seminar for freshmen, whose topic is “the voice of authority.” I was very careful in my selection, and my care has paid off with a deep interest in each course. In my Spanish course, I’ll have the opportunity to work with PhD students. In the second, I’ll have to deliver a six-minute speech for a 200-person audience that will include professors, students, and relatives. In my expository writing course, we’ll have the privilege to speak with two foreign political prisoners whose works we will be analyzing.

What I love about college is that you begin choosing classes based on your interests rather than just fulfilling requirements. In high school, you have less variety of courses, and limitations in terms of topics and even professors. In college, there are fewer requirements for concentrations, hundreds of classes from which to choose, and a vast range of professors. At Harvard some are even Nobel laureates. A student who is self-motivated and wants to learn has infinite possibilities. I explained this to my parents and they have finally understood—college years should be the last opportunity to study everything and anything we are passionate about, before we take on greater responsibilities in life.

It feels so good to write from the warmth of home, relaxing with 80-degree temperatures and the satisfaction of completing my first semester of college. I just finished my finals yesterday and I’m still recovering from the experience. It was an intense three-day journey, nine hours total, not counting the last-minute cramming and the alarm clock waking me each morning, marking the beginning of anxiety.

I have to admit that my winter break in December didn’t turn out very productive in terms of studying. Although I made sure to pack all books and binders to start preparing for exams early, the books sat on my shelves for two weeks, unmoved. On the one hand, this allowed me to dedicate more time to my family and truly recharge my batteries, disconnecting myself for a while from the academic world. On the other hand, upon my return to school two weeks later, the gap in studying made reality hit me hard. There I was two weeks away from finals and panicking. Setting my luggage aside, I designed a plan of study along with a day-by-day schedule, and set the alarm for eight in the morning. It was time to quicken the pace. The clock was ticking.

I only had to take three exams because my freshman seminar was a pass/fail course, which didn’t require a final test, so I had to divide my time preparing for Comparative Politics, Nanotechnology, and Microeconomics. I needed to refresh myself on the material, some of which had been forgotten with the heat of Miami days. I reread all my notes and even the econ. textbook. I’m happy I did this, because the exam actually covered very small details that could have been missed easily had I not gone back to the textbook. For the government class, we were tested over material in two thick, 4,000-page course packs, so it was most efficient to join a study group. These groups are very popular in college, because the size of assignments sometimes makes it almost impossible for an individual student to complete them all. When many students in the same class join a study group, they each are responsible for reading and analyzing an assignment in depth, and pass that summary and analysis along to the rest of the students. The study guide was of great help for finals, but only as a way to “refresh” material. I feel more comfortable reading everything myself throughout the year and creating my own interpretations and conclusions. There’s no question that the study guide is only a complement and definitely not a substitute for learning.

Another helpful tool was using a school website that contained old exams for every class, which students could use to review. I made sure to take every old test and mimic real testing conditions. I would wake up very early and start the practice tests at nine, as I would during the actual exams, and I also timed myself to gain speed. Most important, however, was to attend all the review sessions given by professors. Here you have the opportunity to clarify doubts, get feedback from the same people who write the exams, and compare methods of studying with classmates.

The two weeks of study guides, practice tests, and review sessions evaporated to bring, finally, the first day of exams. I felt confident that I was prepared. Now it was just a matter of thinking strategically and not letting nerves distract me.

My first exam was Microeconomics. For three hours in a large auditorium, pencils scratched the blue paper books, tracing supply-and-demand and consumer-choice graphs, as vigilant proctors watched, and the test takers, necks bent in pain, focused on problems written on interminable pages. I had studied this material exhaustively, so I was able to answer and double-check every question. But test scores in this class are graded on a curve. Sometimes, feeling like you have performed well can be dangerous, since other people might be feeling the same. Your grade depends on how well others in your class did on the test.

The next day I had Comparative Politics, followed by Nanotechnology on Thursday. My government preparation included writing several practice essays about topics I speculated could be included in the exam’s long-response questions. So the exam content came as no surprise to me, and I was able to attack each essay effectively.

As I write from home now, it is hard to believe that everything is over. I left the classroom where I had taken Nanotechnology as I chatted with friends, heading toward the dining hall, commenting about plans for intersession break. It has been quite a busy semester, filled with new experiences and growth. Talking to my dad yesterday on our way home from the airport, he interrupted me to say, “Wow, how you have matured. . .” Have I? Perhaps. There really is no other choice in an environment where you’re responsible for your own well-being. So I was reflecting a couple of days ago, walking through Harvard Yard. Stopping in front of Widener Library, my wet hair freezing (literally), I genuinely realized that I have learned, about government and economics and science, but also about public relations, social “survival of the fittest,” and life.

Time seemed to stand still amidst the never-ending midterms, day after day of salty cafeteria meals, and frozen walks on cobblestone sidewalks destroying every heel on my shoes. Pencil in hand, fervently writing the last paper on Saturday, I anticipated my homecoming. When you’re so far away, the smallest sensory details of home are magnified in your mind. For me, they include the taste of Cuban plantains; the soft texture of Mia, my Yorkshire terrier; and the sight of my grandma’s fingers as she plays the piano and her head turns in perfect rhythm. I couldn’t wait to get home.

Sunday came with gentle breezes and warmth defying the frost as if to prove that I didn’t really need the heat and Latin flavor of my hometown. On my way to the airport, looking through the Yellow Cab window, I was amazed at how familiar Boston already looked to me. I never knew I would be able to adapt to my new life so quickly. It’s not an easy process, I admit, but it can be accomplished with will and time. I remember many of my high school classmates rejected admission into out-of-state colleges simply because it was hard to leave home. In my case, family separation definitely was a huge factor to weigh when considering college locations, but now I’m glad I was able to see beyond the black and white of the situation. Sure I’ve missed the comforts of home, I’ve been forced to deal with vending washing machines, and I’ve called home past midnight when all of a sudden independence seems unbearable, but not everything is bitter. There are sweet experiences as well, which make it all worth it.

Now I’m back home, and every second I spend with my parents is quality time. I’ve learned to love them differently in their absence, with more admiration and respect. I know that I need them, but I also know that I won’t always have them with me. In the future, in whichever profession I choose, my parents will not be there with advice on how to behave, how to treat others, how to handle a business. In college, you struggle and are exposed to a multitude of new experiences, so you have no choice but to seek success following your own conscience. I may make mistakes, but this is the time to make more of them, not when I’m an established professional.

I never fully internalized all these thoughts before applying to college or receiving admission notifications. I can hardly believe it happened a year ago; time has gone by so quickly. By now all the early applicants must have received their long-awaited letters. How anxious I felt last year around this date! I’m happy I prepared myself to apply Early Action, because it spared me the stress of handling even more applications during winter break.

Around this time last year I also was spending time filling out the FAFSA. Having my dad help me throughout the process was of incredible help, for some of the terminology can be confusing. I made sure to start the application very early, because it can take some time, and to have all the needed documents ready before me. High school counselors are well informed about this process, so ask for their help or attend special school or district-wide FAFSA information sessions.

Speaking of counselors, my old high school advisor sent me an invitation to speak at their annual college forum, which I accepted with enthusiasm because it was useful to me as a senior. It’s a great way for students to get firsthand information about the whole college application process. I’ll be talking about the academics, housing facilities, and life in general at Harvard.

The rest of the break is packed with visits to relatives and friends, shopping malls, and even the beach! The joys of living in the Sunshine State. . .However, I also will have to do some studying, since finals are just around the corner, exactly two weeks after my return to school. Until then, though, I am set to relax and recharge the batteries. After all, seven-eighths of college is still left to be completed.

The second round of midterms has begun. After a long weekend of nonstop review sessions, key-terms memorization, and dissipation of last-minute doubts, this week brings no prospects of calm. The chaos started this morning with an hour-long Comparative Politics exam. Tomorrow a presentation on Waiting for Godot awaits, followed by another presentation and 8-page paper rewrite on Thursday, and a science midterm on Friday. While I dive into a pool of the thickest course packs and notes, anxious that I not miss the smallest detail, I try not to forget that, inevitably, the week will soon be over. Then I’ll welcome the most fun event that Harvard life has to offer.

On Saturday the college will host the annual Harvard-Yale football game. This is a much-anticipated party for which preparations are made way in advance to ensure that students get the most out of this tradition. Tailgates, battles of the bands, and cook-outs take place throughout the weekend, which is highlighted by the victory of either rival. Despite this popular rivalry, though, the Harvadians look forward to welcoming Yalies home. Even students from nonparticipating schools want to take part. I’ll be hosting two of my girlfriends, one from Princeton and another from Duke.

One of the benefits of college life is mobility, especially in an urban setting. Here you can easily move around using public transportation. When work permits, I like leaving Cambridge and getting a taste of Boston’s downtown with all its shops, restaurants and parks. I recently attended a fascinating Cirque Du Soleil performance, and just a few days ago, a modern dance show staged by Harvard undergraduates. You have to be careful with your spare time, though. I remember that during the first long weekend I had in Harvard, I miscalculated the number of assignments I had, and it was very hard to catch up later. You have to dedicate at least some time to schoolwork every day.

I’ve already been considering my summer activity plans. Harvard provides numerous opportunities for internships, summer jobs, and study abroad through its Office of Career Services and Office of International Programs. Next summer I would like to travel to Latin America and participate in an internship for a social service group, for example. Professional and international experience is highly valued by graduate schools, and it also fulfills my desires to explore and be exposed to new lifestyles and cultures. I am open to traveling in other countries, too, and even studying more languages. Next semester, I might take an extra course in Portuguese, whose melody really attracts me. Regardless of what I end up doing, though, it’s important to start planning for the summer as the end of the year approaches. Applications are due very early, and some programs require certain courses that I could take during second semester if I’m aware of the requirement.

In terms of studying abroad, however, there’s one particular program I daydream about. It turns out that Harvard University obtained special authorization to send students to study at the University of Havana. Just the idea of being able to live in my country a second time in my native town and so close to my family, to take classes with Cuban students for five months is overpowering. I never thought I would be given this opportunity and so I’m more than ready to embrace it. Here in the United States, my parents support me. Across the sea, in Cuba, my relatives wait for me with open arms. In my mind, their faces remain unchanged as do the streets and buildings and trees of my neighborhood.

Will I find them unchanged? Amidst my excitement, a delicate fear exists with the thought that, after all, everything I have idealized during these long four years might not be reality anymore. I might find that, despite my reluctance to adapt to new streets and buildings and trees in American soil, I have unconsciously forged a new identity.