Orientation — 2020
Welcome to the Orientation Issue!
As we’ve all known by now, these last few months have been like no other we’ve seen before. The transition to a virtual world, for many of us, has been a disorienting and confusing experience, and for an independent student-run newspaper like The Record, adapting has been a necessity.
Regardless, though such changes have been a challenge, it is our responsibility as a newspaper to make certain materials open to as many people as possible. That is why we’ve been hard at work to prepare this issue for all of you and make it as accessible as possible in this new virtual environment.
Letter from the Editor
Dear Class of 2023,
Welcome! Congratulations to all of you for having made it this far; just by being here, you’ve already proven you can persevere through anything. However, don’t lose your steam just yet. The journey has only just begun.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, “When one door closes, another door opens.” This is especially true at HLS; even when one assignment is missed, when one grade is lower than you expected, when one job rejects you, there will always be another opportunity right around the corner. Even in our virtual world, that continues to be true.
Sometimes we forget to let go of those missed opportunities and embrace the new ones that come our way. That is what the remaining (and oft-forgotten) portion of that adage articulates. “When one door closes, another door opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
You and your classmates have been entrusted with a new delicate, task; one that may even seem daunting and discouraging at times. It’s human to fear failure, to be afraid of the unknown. Yet it is also human to persist regardless. Don’t linger on what you perceive to be failure that you become the main obstruction on your path. Imagine instead what lies ahead while choosing to learn from your past mistakes.
The best part? The resources you need to help you throughout your journey are at your disposal — quite conveniently, in fact — through HLS.
From professors and faculty who will take the time to listen to your fellow 1Ls who are likely facing similar situations, there are endless souls who will freely give you the advice, encouragement and validation you deserve. At your fingertips (quite literally), you have access to Harvard University Health Services (HUHS) where you can schedule virtual appointments and meet with specialists. It would not be an exaggeration to say that if you are looking for support at HLS, all you need to do is look and you will find it.
Most of all, though, I urge you to keep trying, even when it seems fruitless. If you have any doubts or concerns, never be afraid to ask; chances are, your “silly question” is not so easy or silly at all. Even if you feel overwhelmed or ready to give up — or even if you already have given up — accept your losses and choose to persist anyways.
If you’re looking for that open door and can’t seem to find it, no matter what you do, I have one final piece of advice for you: Look for the window.
Diego Alvarez, Editor-in-Chief