Guest Blogger: Emefa Dake, Harvard University
Coming to Harvard from a medium-sized public high school in Minnesota, where no one had gone to Harvard in over 20 years, was nothing short of surreal. I am the daughter of Ghanaian immigrants, and from the moment I stepped on campus, I felt a mix of awe, excitement, and overwhelming doubt. The world I entered was filled with prestige and privilege, a far cry from the environment in which I grew up. I quickly realized that I wasn’t just adjusting to college but to an entirely different universe as well.
Imposter syndrome hit me hard. I questioned whether I truly belonged in lecture halls filled with legacy students and global achievers. But two classes changed everything for me. On my very first day, I walked into the Harvard Art Museum to take Reimagining Global Health with Professor Arthur Kleinman – a class based on a book I’d studied in high school. That course was a revelation. For the first time, my dreams of global health equity weren’t dismissed as idealistic, they were affirmed as necessary. Later that year, I enrolled in Dilemmas in the World Economy with Professor Elhanan Helpman, which deepened my understanding of global systems that reinforce inequality. These two classes became my cornerstones, grounding me in a sense of purpose and helping me see how economies and public health could work hand in hand.
That first year, I published articles in the Harvard International Review, contributed to a health economics report on the Dominican Republic, and secured a fully funded summer internship in Rwanda at the University of Global Health Equity. Each experience reaffirmed my commitment to making healthcare more accessible and equitable, especially in underserved regions.
But my sophomore year brought new challenges. I took on some of the toughest classes in my concentration while managing more extracurricular commitments than I ever thought possible. I struggled. There were late nights, moments of burnout, and days when I questioned whether I was doing enough or too much. But through it all, I learned to ask for help, set boundaries, and trust my instincts. The pressure didn’t break me; it refined me.
Today, I feel more grounded than ever. I’ve had the honor of speaking at the United Nations and am preparing for a fully funded internship this summer in Geneva, where I’ll contribute to international development work. In the fall, I’ll study abroad at Oxford University and then travel to Argentina to participate in a U.S.-Latin America foreign policy summit, giving me a chance to engage deeply with regions and topics I’m passionate about.
Harvard has tested me in ways I never participated in, but it has also gifted me friendships, mentors, and experiences I couldn’t have imagined. My time here has been about more than just academic success. It’s been about finding my voice, shaping my purpose, and realizing that I belong, not because I fit the mold, but because I’m forging a new one.
How Collegeboxes Can Help With Your College Journey
Students like Emefa show us that college is a launchpad for purpose, passion, and impact. And whether you’re heading to a new campus, traveling for an internship, or studying abroad, Collegeboxes is always here to support your next move. With Collegeboxes, you can stay focused on pursuing your dream.