At Harvard, I co-led the organization of Harvard China Forum, the largest student-run China conference in North America that attracts 1,200 attendees and features over 100 speakers each year. The speaker list is a who's who of prominent figures in the US-China cross-border world. It was not easy to run a large event as students … Continue reading Lessons Learned from Organizing Harvard China Forum
So What Did I Learn at Harvard?
One hallmark of graduation season is that every day or so, someone asks me: “So what was your biggest takeaway from four years at Harvard?” I always struggle to answer this question. They may as well have said: “Summarize your transformations over the past four years, and all the lessons you’ve learned in classes, extracurriculars, … Continue reading So What Did I Learn at Harvard?
Why Unread Messages Are Dangerous
When I was younger and living in China, I used to read the book “Harvard Girl Liu Yiting,” a bestselling parenting bible that detailed the education of Liu Yiting, who was one of the very few students from Mainland China admitted to Harvard College in that era. Most of the content of that book has … Continue reading Why Unread Messages Are Dangerous
Things I Wish I knew As A Harvard Freshman
You can’t force any Harvard students to do anything Never take “no” as an answer; never take rules as unchangeable Lamont is a place to socialize, not to study Do not buy any course books. You will NOT read them. Just borrow from the library. Never expect that everyone has the same priorities as you … Continue reading Things I Wish I knew As A Harvard Freshman
10 Most Underappreciated Food Places Around Harvard
You should be experiencing major FOMO if you graduate from Harvard without eating at one of these places! 1. Night Market 75 Winthrop St Partly because of its subterranean nature and unassuming front, Night Market has gone unnoticed by many Harvard students—I personally have never stepped into it until senior year. But the moment I … Continue reading 10 Most Underappreciated Food Places Around Harvard
My Problem with “How are you?”
When I first arrived at Harvard freshman year, it was also my first time being in the US. Many things that happened during that hectic first week of school is now blurry memory, but one thing still stands out to me, more than three years later: I did not know how to reply when people … Continue reading My Problem with “How are you?”
A Guide to Eating at Harvard Square and Beyond
My biggest hobby at Harvard is finding good food (and here is why). Having spent three years here, I have gotten so familiar with the restaurant scene here that I feel compelled to pass on my knowledge for those new to the area. Below is a review of nearly 100 food places at Harvard Square and … Continue reading A Guide to Eating at Harvard Square and Beyond
I’m Not Defined By My Major
“Where do you go to school?” “Harvard.” “Cool! What do you study?” “Psychology.” “Cool! So you’re gonna become a psychologist?” “….” I have been in this conversation for probably a hundred times. Each time I get asked the last question, I become frustrated and try to change the topic. People just don’t understand why I … Continue reading I’m Not Defined By My Major
How Harvard (and America) has changed how I eat
Eating at Harvard, in my opinion, is more about mental and emotional sustenance than it is about nutritional intake. I eat because I feel like a deserve it.
Several Thoughts on the Common App Essay
Your first three or four topics are most likely not good enough, so don’t be discouraged—keep trying, and stay open to new topics. Read some books by great essayists, such as E.B. White and Anne Fadiman. Read writing books like Elements of Style and On Writing Well, and take these lessons to heart. Stop reading … Continue reading Several Thoughts on the Common App Essay
Zara Zhang 