![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/collegeadmissionsstudentblog\/files\/2012\/05\/32-john-harvard.png\")
<\/a>The Yard & John Harvard Statue with more visitors during commencement than normal; welcome!<\/p><\/div>\n
As my sophomore academic year ended, I couldn\u2019t (and didn’t want to) believe another phenomenal senior class would be graduating from the college. First and foremost, they all deserve a grand CONGRATULATIONS \u2013 no banner, no matter how large, will ever be able to accurately convey the prodigious pride that they have instilled not only in themselves, but also in their family, friends, and even acquaintances. The graduating class of 2012 has \u2013 and will continue to – permanently imprint their intellect and kindness both on and off campus. President Faust<\/a> eloquently and succinctly delineates the greatness of 2012 in her commencement speech [here<\/a>] \u2013 while reading this, I shamelessly freaked out about her how AWESOME her closing line is!! Referencing Call Me, Maybe<\/a> definitely captures part of Harvard\u2019s culture as this track has conquered campus, infiltrating into the playlist of every (good) party, Housing Day videos<\/a>, and of course, athletic teams<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Fun fact (that I think is true): Class Banners are only presented a few special times - Convocation, Commencement & Reunions!<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n After freshman year at the<\/p>\n Convocation and Commencement happen in the same place: between Memorial Church & Widener Library<\/p><\/div>\n undergraduate college, students are officially considered \u201cupperclassmen\u201d as we move into our upperclassmen houses (dorms). This \u201cHouse Life\u201d definitely lends itself to increased interaction with the older (and wiser) kids on campus. Therefore, I definitely feel much closer to this year\u2019s senior class. In fact, many of them were instrumental in my decision to become premed my freshman spring semester. Needless to say, I\u2019ve gotten pretty reminiscent and have been watching class day\/commencement speeches these past few hours \u2013 perhaps trying to prematurely absorb and apply the wisdom being imparted. To my surprise, some of my favorite speeches weren\u2019t celebrities, but rather students \u2013 students speaking about failures and disappointments: Molly O\u2019Connor Fitzpatrick<\/a>, Scott Alan Levin-Gesundheit<\/a>, Jacqueline Rossi<\/a>, and Steven Maheshwary<\/a>. As depressing as this may seem, it’s hard to talk about something without mentioning its evil twin. So on the glorious day where we rejoice in our successes, we must also acknowledge how our failures have brought us here.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>