Millennial Must-Reads are student-contributed posts by members of the "Millennial" generation - America's 18-29 year-olds - on current events and politics and public service. Viewpoints expressed are exclusively attributed to undergraduate authors and not endorsed by Harvard's Institute of Politics.
“It’s always a new adventure” were the words IOP President Colin Diersing remarked to me as I talked to him on the floor of the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum. The Forum is often where some of the world’s greatest political figures take center stage to discuss some of the biggest issues facing our nation and the world. However, on this day the IOP and its many program chairs were the ones in the spotlight at the IOP’s Spring Open House. With students nearly exceeding the capacity of the Forum floor it was indeed an adventure navigating through the crowd and the world of the IOP.
Now officially a veteran of the IOP and its programs, I didn’t have to worry about figuring out which programs to learn more about. (However, I did have to restrain myself from signing up for too many programs!) Instead, for veterans like me, it was a great way to see familiar faces and some new ones too. As shy newcomers walked by the tables advertising the IOP’s wide variety of programs, some would timidly stop me to ask if I had any recommendations. Of course, I may have been a little biased to promote the programs I was involved with last semester, the Harvard Political Union and the Harvard Political Review, but overall I told people to be open and to explore, which was the exact advice I had received last semester. In fact, it was because of my openness first semester that I discovered the HPR and came to love the world of political journalism, something I never would have imagined to have happened! Even now, I’ve tried to stay open and will hopefully be doing more than last semester.
One aspect of the IOP I’m particularly looking forward to experiencing this semester are the study groups with this semester’s extraordinary set of fellows. All of them beautifully showcased what their study groups would entail in their pre Open House panel discussion. From Matt Lira’s highlighting the future of political strategy to Senator Kay Hagan commenting on her work in the Senate, it’s already evident that the fellows chosen this semester are bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience with them. Getting to speak with a few of them during the Open House also showed me that they are all very personable. The difficulty now is choosing exactly which study groups to attend!
The IOP Spring Open House eventually came to an end with individuals leaving eager to fill out the IOP Common App. While most headed back to their dorms, a select few, including myself, decided to head to HPU’s first debate of the semester. As I walked into the debate with my friends I wondered what was in store. All I knew was that I was about to begin my new set of adventures at the IOP and was more than ready to experience it all.
Christopher Cruz is a member of the class of 2018 concentrating in economics with a secondary in government. Chris originates from Upland, a town in sunny southern California. He currently serves as a student Communication Fellow for the Harvard Institute of Politics. Chris is also a member of the Harvard Political Union and serves as a staff writer for the Harvard Political Review. Among many other interests, he is particularly passionate about educational and economic policy. Chris firmly believes in utilizing knowledge for the betterment of society and hopes to use the knowledge he receives at Harvard to pursue a career in public service.