Are you ready to understand complex public problems and craft concrete solutions?
At the beginning of every school year, Orientation Leaders welcome first-year students to Harvard Kennedy School by leading and helping them with their first few weeks in Cambridge. Master in Public Policy (MPP) Orientation Leaders Sunny Jiang MPP 2026, Candace Mergerssa MPP 2026, and Helen Agee MPP 2026 reflected on their time as “OLs” and offered advice for prospective students.
Read what they shared below.
Sunny Jiang MPP 2026
Why I became an Orientation Leader
“You may be younger, but never underestimate yourself—you’re here because you have something to contribute.”
Those words stayed with me long after my first week of graduate school. I walked into Orientation at HKS feeling like the least experienced person in the room, surrounded by peers with years of professional and academic accomplishments. I questioned whether I truly belonged. But then, an Orientation Leader—someone who had once stood in my shoes—reminded me that my perspective, background, and ideas were not just valid but necessary.
That moment inspired me to become an Orientation Leader myself. Graduate school is more than an academic pursuit—it’s an entirely new way of learning, thinking, and connecting. The transition can feel overwhelming—adapting to a rigorous workload, meeting new people, or simply figuring out the best study spots. During my own Orientation, I realized how much even small guidance—an insider tip on student discounts, a caveat of how cold Boston winter is, or a simple reassurance that no one has it all figured out—can make all the difference.
How I spent my summer
My summer prepared me well for being an Orientation Leader. The first half I spent working for a non-profit in Chile, focusing on advancing literacy for vulnerable children. In the second half, I worked on dialogue initiatives with a think tank, developing dialogue guides and conducting research on conflict analysis frameworks.
This summer taught me empathy, active listening, and facilitation skills—tools I was able to apply directly in my Orientation Leader role. Guiding new students, helping them navigate challenges, and fostering meaningful conversations felt like a natural extension of the work I had done all summer.
My favorite events at Orientation
Orientation was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me, and I loved every part of it. If I had to pick a favorite, it would be the Cohort Time. This year, my co-Orientation Leader and I designed a variety of activities to help students bond:
- Field Day: Outdoor team challenges—including passing ping pong balls on paddles—that brought everyone together in a fun, energetic way.
- HKS Trivia: A lively game testing students’ knowledge of HKS life, which sparked conversations and laughter.
- Digging Deeper: Facilitated dialogues encouraging participants to connect personally, beyond the professional level.
Watching students open up, form friendships, and support one another was incredibly rewarding. Those moments reminded me why I love being part of this community and why creating spaces for genuine connection matters so deeply. For me, that is the heart of Orientation, and I feel truly grateful to have been trusted with the opportunity to serve as an Orientation Leader. I also want to give a heartfelt shout-out to the incredible professors, staff, fellow Orientation Leaders, and student volunteers who worked hard to create a welcoming experience and lasting memories for new students.
Advice for prospective students
If you’re considering HKS, trust yourself and your voice. You bring experiences, perspectives, and insights that no one else has, and those contributions are exactly what make this community vibrant and impactful. Don’t be afraid to step into challenging conversations, share your ideas, and ask questions—this is a place that thrives on curiosity and engagement. Embrace every opportunity to learn from your peers, collaborate across disciplines, and grow both personally and professionally.
Being an Orientation Leader reinforced for me why HKS is such a special place: it’s a community where your ideas matter, your growth is encouraged, and friendships can last a lifetime.
“If you’re considering HKS, trust yourself and your voice. You bring experiences, perspectives, and insights that no one else has, and those contributions are exactly what make this community vibrant and impactful.”
Sunny Jiang MPP 2026
Candace Mergerssa MPP 2026
Why I became an Orientation Leader
I’ll be completely frank: I was so nervous starting at HKS last year. That feeling of uncertainty and excitement (okay, maybe more uncertainty!) stuck with me throughout my first semester, so I wanted to become an Orientation Leader to help folks with their transition into all things HKS. I wanted to help ease their nerves but also make them realize that the anxiety is normal. Beyond that personal connection, I’ve always valued mentorship.
What motivated me was knowing how important it can be for students—especially those from different backgrounds or with shared lived experiences—to feel seen and supported from day one. I wanted to be that person for incoming students who might be feeling exactly how I felt a year ago.
My favorite events at Orientation
This summer brought unique challenges for our HKS community. There was significant uncertainty around international students and whether they would be able to join us on campus. We were incredibly grateful that so many students successfully made it to Cambridge, but we also needed to support those who couldn’t arrive in time for Orientation. I was assigned to lead remote sessions for students planning to arrive after Orientation, alongside my amazing co-Orientation Leader Aureo Mesquita. While it wasn’t traditional in-person Orientation, these sessions became some of my favorite moments.
My absolute favorite session was hearing students share what they wanted to get out of their HKS experience. It was such a powerful reminder of what makes this place special. HKS brings people together from all over the world with incredibly diverse interests, backgrounds, and goals, all in one place. Listening to their hopes and aspirations reminded me why I fell in love with this community in the first place.
Even through a screen, you could feel the excitement and determination in these students’ voices. It reinforced how lucky we are to be part of such a global, passionate community.
I also loved the Orientation Boat Cruise! Although I was super reluctant toward the matching hats among the Orientation Leaders, it ended up making for a great picture.
Advice for prospective students
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before I started at HKS: This place can feel overwhelming, and that’s completely normal.
You’ll encounter:
- Countless opportunities (seriously, so many!)
- Brilliant classmates doing incredible work
- Professors who are leaders in their fields
- Events, student caucuses, and initiatives happening constantly
The key is remembering that every person navigates HKS differently, and that’s exactly what we tried to emphasize during orientation. There’s no “right” way to do HKS. Some people dive deep into one area, others explore broadly. Some focus on academics, others on networking, and many find their sweet spot somewhere in between.
Give yourself permission to find your own path. Don’t feel pressure to do everything or be everywhere. Figure out what matters most to you and what aligns with your goals, then pursue those opportunities wholeheartedly.
Final thoughts
Being an Orientation Leader brought about so much self-reflection over the growth and experiences I have faced in the last year since I was in the same seat as our new MPP class. As nervous as I was last year, I have been able to meet some great people, meet many of the goals I set out to achieve for graduate school, and even stumbled upon some unexpected opportunities. Oftentimes those nerves are inevitable and are not an indicator of your future success.
Embrace the nerves, lean on your community (both old and new), and trust that you belong here. Your story and perspective are exactly what this place needs.
“HKS brings people together from all over the world with incredibly diverse interests, backgrounds, and goals, all in one place. Listening to their hopes and aspirations reminded me why I fell in love with this community in the first place.”
Candace Mergerssa MPP 2026
Helen Agee MPP 2026
Why I became an Orientation Leader
Being a new student at HKS is overwhelming. With so many interesting classes, fun events, and amazing people, it can be difficult to prioritize. I wanted to be the person who helps new students:
- Navigate HKS’s many unique opportunities
- Feel welcomed and included from day one
- Lay the foundation for a positive and open-minded environment
I was inspired by my own Orientation Leaders, Bibi Lichauco MPP 2025 and Zubair Merchant MPP 2025, who set the tone for my cohort’s culture. Because of them, the Alphas became a supportive, tight-knit community. I wanted to pass that gift forward.
How I spent my summer
This summer, I worked as an administrative intern at Massachusetts General Hospital, where I:
- Gained exposure to the complex operations of a major academic medical center
- Coordinated interdisciplinary working groups to define strategic goals for the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging
- Synthesized themes and partnered with the leadership at the Martinos Center to propose a more representative, nomination-based governance model
It was amazing to see how my work helped shape big-picture strategy for one of the country’s leading research centers.
My favorite events at Orientation
Two events stood out to me during Orientation.
- Constructive Disagreement Module: Students at HKS come from all walks of life, so it was valuable to learn how to disagree with friends’ perspectives without damaging the relationship. This session emphasized dialogue that’s helpful and respectful instead of heated or argumentative, and it gave me tools to use both in class discussions and at informal social events.
- Office of Career Advancement (OCA) Session: Although I have a guaranteed job in the military after graduation, I still appreciated learning about OCA and the services they provide. After Orientation, I met with OCA staff, who walked me through potential activities for the semester and internship planning. Even if you are a student with a clearly defined job after HKS, OCA is a great resource to inform students about short-term goals (while at HKS) and long-term questions (10 years down the road!).
Advice for prospective students
If you are thinking of applying to HKS, my advice is to absolutely go for it! Why?
- Diversity in the classroom: You’ll learn as much from classmates as you will from professors. Every day I’m surrounded by people with different experiences, interests, and perspectives, which means I’m always learning something new.
- Opportunities everywhere: HKS is full of possibilities, but so is the rest of Harvard. I’m part of the Humanitarian Studies Concentration at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Last semester, I spent several days camping in the woods and working with a team of students to respond to a simulated humanitarian crisis. It was physically and mentally challenging, and it was directly relevant to my future as a hospital administrator in the Medical Service Corps, which also will require me to address humanitarian disasters.
When applying to HKS, stay open-minded, be ready to challenge your beliefs and perspectives, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path—HKS is what you make it.
“When applying to HKS, stay open-minded, be ready to challenge your beliefs and perspectives, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path—HKS is what you make it.”
Helen Agee MPP 2026
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