• HOME
  • ABOUT

HDS Admissions: Student Blog

HDS Admissions: Student Blog

Tag Archives: Interfaith

Getting to Know HDS: New Friends and In-Between Spaces

05 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by Keith Esposito in Transitioning to HDS

≈ Comments Off on Getting to Know HDS: New Friends and In-Between Spaces

Tags

Academics, Adjusting, Christianity, Classmates, Friends, Interfaith, Student Life, Workload

Recently, as a graduate assistant in the Office of Admissions, I was fielding questions in a virtual chatroom from prospective HDS applicants. Most of the questions were the typical ones you’d expect: What degrees are offered at HDS? Is HDS affiliated with a particular denomination? How does financial aid work? Some were a little more specific: What’s field education and why is it required for all MDivs? Can you tell me more about the Boston Theological Institute? What’s campus life like at HDS?

But there was one question I hadn’t been expecting: Keith, could you tell us what you like the most about HDS?

For context, I am a first year MDiv, this was only my second week of class, and my time at HDS thus far had been a blur. My days consisted of rushing out the door each day for morning prayer at Memorial Church, followed by an advanced Spanish course I was cross-registered in at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and then off to my other classes on Religious Pluralism or Ministry Studies or Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion, followed by discussion sections, my Hear and Now interfaith group, late nights in the comfy chairs on the second floor of Andover-Harvard Library chipping away at my mountain of reading, and finally my bike ride home, where I would collapse in an exhausted, but happy, heap on my bed, wake up the next morning, and do it all over again.

I loved my classes, the worship services, my readings—all of it. But I hadn’t had much time yet to process it all. And upon reflection I realized that my favorite part of HDS thus far was the in-between time, the few gaps in my schedule, because it was during those times that I had started to build friendships with my classmates. During a break, I’d mosey outside to the quad, inevitably bump into someone, and strike up a conversation: about Boston, or our classes, or specific readings. Just the night before, I had ended up sitting in the grass with two classmates completely geeking out over some obscure philosophy text.  On another occasion, a conversation about various Christian practices led to a group of us attending a local church service that weekend.

My classmates fascinate me. They come from all walks of life, from all over the US and the world, from an array of religious traditions, all with deep-seated convictions. From them I’ve already learned about Zen Buddhist monasticism, interpretative approaches to Nietzsche, Latin American Liberation Theology, and Greek Orthodox contemplative practices, not to mention the best bars in the Cambridge, books that change lives, and life hacks for poor graduate students (tip #1: shop at market basket). I’ve quickly realized that though HDS offers leading scholars, top-notch academics, unimaginable opportunities, and access to University-wide resources, its greatest resource may be the students who study here. I look forward to learning from as many as I can, one impromptu conversation at a time.

In My Head and In My Heart

24 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Aisha Ansano in Why I Chose HDS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Classmates, Community, Interfaith, MTS, Open House, Ph.D., Spirituality

Divinity Ave. Photo by Chris Alburger

Divinity Ave. Photo by Chris Alburger

If a year and a half ago someone had told me I would soon be in Divinity School, I would have thought two things: 1. “Here is someone who doesn’t understand that you can do something with a Religious Studies major besides become ordained” and 2. “That is not in my plan.”

Continue reading →

The MDiv Program

11 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Academics

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Aspirations, Christianity, Classes, Faith, Field Ed, Humanist, Interfaith, Jewish, MDiv, Ministry, Muslim, Pagan, Religious Pluralism, Theology

My book shelf. Photo by Chris Alburger

My book shelf. Photo by Chris Alburger

Continue reading →

A Hyper-Stimulating Environment

03 Monday Mar 2014

Posted by Chris Alburger in Student Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Classmates, CSWR, Events, FOMO, HBS, HGSE, HKS, HLS, Interfaith, Libraries, Opportunities, Public Health, Research, Resources, Student Life, Theological Education Day, Tours, Work-Study

A bulletin board in the Rock. Photo by Chris Alburger

A bulletin board in the Rock. Photo by Chris Alburger

It’s hyper-stimulating. That’s what I thought, when I visited Harvard Divinity School for Theological Education Day. With all the panel discussions for prospective students, classes to visit, faculty and denominational counselors to meet, and library and campus tours, in addition to the regular events that take place throughout the year, like Community Tea, Noon Service, and events and lectures, there was far more going on than I could possibly do in my 2-day visit. As a student at Harvard for two years now, that feeling hasn’t gone away. I’ve found there’s far more going on here than I can even keep track of, let alone do, in any given week.

Continue reading →

Spiritual Community at HDS

25 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Chris Alburger in Student Life

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Buddhism, Catholic, Clubs, Community, Community Tea, Evangelical, Faculty, Friends, Hear & Now, Humanist, HUUMS, Interfaith, Jewish, Ministry, Muslim, Noon Service, Retreats, RSL, Spirituality, Staff, UU, WomenCircle

IMG_4658

Walking the Labyrinth during the HDS Fall Retreat. Photo by Chris Alburger

I see Harvard Divinity School as a spiritual community, within which there are many distinct spiritual communities. HDS is full of kind, caring, altruistic people, because that’s who the school attracts. Classmates, faculty, and staff have all ministered to me and supported me through difficult times. I often have conversations with people that inspire or challenge me to be my best self (like a good sermon). The Divinity School, like we say at my church, is “a place where we practice being human.”

Community Tea on Tuesday afternoons is like “Coffee Hour” at church to me. It’s when Continue reading →

Diversity and Explorations 2012: A Reflection

01 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by Caston Lee Benjamin Boyd III in Applying

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Academics, Buddhism, Christianity, Diversity, DivEx, Fit, Interfaith, LGBT, Muslim, Religious Pluralism

IMG_4446

November at HDS. Photo by Chris Alburger

Major vocations, careers, and life callings are antecedents of a secondary or inconsequential, but illuminating moment in one’s existence. If I could express this concept more thoroughly, I would say it is similar to attending a well-organized Nutcracker performance, based on the 1891 production by Tchaikovsky, and imagining yourself as a ballerina/ballerino; and assessing the complexities (I have no plans in this vocation, by the way). For me, Diversity and Explorations (DivEx) served that, and more. At DivEx I envisioned my role at Harvard Divinity, made relationships, and critically observed Harvard Divinity. Along with all the free goodies that went with being a participant, DivEx served as an enlightening moment for my subsequent decision, and my life at HDS now. Continue reading →

Hear and Now at HDS

22 Tuesday Oct 2013

Posted by Aisha Ansano in Student Life

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Food, Friends, Hear & Now, Interfaith, RSL, Student Life

Image

Karen, Aisha, Molly, Angela, & Bennett—a Hear & Now group—gather for food & fellowship for one of their weekly interreligious discussions

When I showed up at my first Hear and Now meeting, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was the first one there, perpetually early because I never know if things will run on “Harvard time”—that is, starting 7-10 minutes past real time. Slowly, the rest of my group trickled in, some I had met before and some I had not. We started out hesitantly, not knowing exactly what to do, but eventually we got into the flow, talking about our days, our lives, and our experiences with religion and spirituality. Before we knew it, the hour had passed and it was time to part. Continue reading →

Reflections on an Interfaith Movement in Jordan

12 Tuesday Mar 2013

Posted by Melissa Nozell in Experiential Learning

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christianity, CSWR, Field Ed, Greeley Fellowship, Interfaith, Muslim, Opportunities, Study Abroad, Summer, Theology

When considering divinity school, and the ways in which Harvard Divinity School in particular may be the right fit, you have probably spent a bit of time thinking about how your pursuit of a degree at such an institution might benefit or influence you professionally.

In those considerations, I imagine most thoughts have revolved around various dimensions of on-campus opportunities, and not necessarily the possibilities of career exploration abroad. While my campus experiences have been enriching in so many ways, one of my most formative experiences came in the form of a summer abroad. Continue reading →

Designer Labels

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Eboni Haynes in Why I Chose HDS

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Academics, Discernment, Faculty, Fit, Harvard, Interfaith, Ph.D., Religious Pluralism

Harvard chair. Photo by Katelynn Carver

Harvard chair. Photo by Katelynn Carver

Why Harvard? Why HDS? Why not Harvard? As a woman who spent the bulk of her adult life in the rather transparent world of Hollywood, I can tell you that just because it bears a label does not mean you should wear it. I use this analogy because the reality is: Harvard is one of the most prestigious labels with which one can adorn oneself.  But, when plotting your future, the institution you choose to be your home for either two, three or five years should fit you like a glorious tailor-made suit.

Continue reading →

Categories

  • Academics (23)
  • Applying (23)
  • Considering HDS (14)
  • Experiential Learning (15)
  • Graduating (6)
  • HDS Interviews (10)
  • Student Life (38)
  • Summers (9)
  • Transitioning to HDS (18)
  • Waiting to Hear (7)
  • What's It Like at HDS? (24)
  • Why I Chose HDS (16)

Tags

Academics Adjusting Admissions Advice Alumni Applying ask students Aspirations Boston Buddhism Cambridge Campus Career Career Services Catholic chaplaincy Christianity Classes Classmates Clubs Community Community Organizing Community Tea Conferences Cross-Registering CSWR Current students Decisions Discernment Diversity DivEx Events Experiential Experiential Learning Faculty Faith Family Field Ed financial aid Fit FOMO Food Friends Graduate Assistants GRE Greater Boston Growth Harvard HBS HDS People Hear & Now HGSE HKS Housing How to Apply Humanist Interfaith Islam J-Term Jewish Latin@ Lectures LGBT Libraries MDiv Ministry Moving MTS Muslim Noon Service Open House Opportunities Orientation Peers Ph.D. Pluralism Project Prospective Students Public Health Recommendation Letters Religion & Politics Religious Pluralism Research Resources RSL Self Care Social Justice Somerville Spirituality Staff Statement of Purpose Student Life Study Abroad Summer Summer Language Program Theology UU Waiting Work Work-Study Workload

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 366 other followers

Twitter Updates

  • Amazing piece by @HarvardRPL's @LaurenRKerby on the Capitol insurrection. A must read for the moment!! @TheAtlantic twitter.com/LaurenRKerby/s… 3 days ago
  • “I see design as a way to connect with people and give them tools to accomplish their goals. That’s very much in li… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 4 days ago
  • RT @JadeSylvan: We don't know when we'll be able to do in-person shows again, but the darkened stages have given me time to reflect on the… 6 days ago
  • RT @uua_lgbtq: Former Clara Barton Fellow J. Sylvan has a piece in the current issue of the @HarvardDivinity Bulletin about their thesis pr… 6 days ago
  • .@JadeSylvan, MDiv ‘20, adapted the biblical story of David into a #queer #bible #musical, Beloved King. The show w… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 6 days ago

Flickr Photos

William James Lecture 2010Eagle Warrior2017 Multireligious Commencement Service
More Photos

Credits

Header image photo: Tony Rinaldo

Blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel