By Karlotta Garinet MPA 2027
When I arrived for my first day at Harvard Kennedy School, I was handed a handwritten letter: “Dear Karlotta, dreams do come true.” I hadn’t yet attended a class, hadn’t introduced myself to a single classmate, and somehow I already felt like I was in the right place.
But beginning a new program in a new place can also be quite stressful. Nobody arrives at a new school knowing everyone. Here are five ideas that genuinely helped me find my community at HKS that I hope can help you find yours.
Introduce yourself first
The simplest community-building advice I can give to you: go first. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or the right setting. Just introduce yourself.
While studying in Widener Library with two friends last semester, a first-year undergraduate student shyly approached us and asked if we could exchange numbers. She was looking for study buddies with whom to go to the library. She didn’t seem like a natural extrovert but came up to us anyway. That small act of bravery was something I took as an example going forward during my time at HKS.
Looking for some guidance? You don’t need a script, but these are two questions I have found that spark real conversation:
“What brought you to HKS?” Everyone has a story, and I promise every one is worth hearing.
“What are you most looking forward to?” It’s positive, it’s easy, and it tells you a lot about a person.
Start with your cohort
Your cohort is the community you don’t have to go looking for. Orientation week is intentionally social for a reason. Go to the dinners, introduce yourself (even if small talk isn’t your thing), and sit next to someone new at every event. The connections you make in those first few days have a way of sticking. They’re the people who become your neighbors, your study group, and maybe—like in my case—your Sunday brunch crew.
Some of the best moments I’ve had with my cohort were never planned. Toward the beginning of the semester, a small group of us realized we missed speaking French. I was far from my family in France, and others simply wanted to practice. So, we started an informal “French Café” group. No agenda or structure—just French pastries and a casual conversation. This helped me cope with the homesickness I was feeling and allowed me to get to know my classmates better.
“Lean into the conversations with people whose experience looks nothing like yours. Those are often the ones that change how you see the world.”
Find the group that feels like home
HKS has more student organizations than you can imagine. My advice: don’t join everything. Find one or two organizations that mean something to you.
For me, that was the German American Conference. I wouldn’t be at HKS if it weren’t for that community—it connected me to this school before I even applied.
Whatever your background is, there is a space here for you. You can explore:
Regional and cultural caucuses. Whether it’s the Latin American Caucus, Ukraine Caucus, or your home country’s organization, these are grounding groups if you’re far from home.
Issue-based and professional interest groups. From the Impact Investing Club to the Armed Forces Committee, there are caucuses across every field you can imagine.
Hobby and interest groups. Go hiking with the Outdoors Club or spend time in the Arts & Culture Society.
Let academic spaces become human ones
Some of my most important connections at HKS came through an informal group built around a shared research interest. I wasn’t sure I belonged there at first. Some members were much further along in their careers, and I worried I didn’t have enough to contribute. After the first meeting, however, I realized I had plenty to say. These people—despite being more senior—engaged with me as an equal. That experience truly changed how I think about putting myself in rooms that feel slightly out of reach.
Leave room for the unexpected
HKS will fill every hour of your calendar if you let it. My advice is to leave gaps in your schedule so you can say yes to the unexpected. Accept the invitation you weren’t expecting. The community you’re looking for is often hiding in the things you almost didn’t do. I made it a personal goal to attend at least one event per month that I hadn’t originally planned to.
It’s also important to remember that everyone around you is building community, too. The person who looks most confident in the room? They’re also figuring it out. Lean into the conversations with people whose experience looks nothing like yours. Those are often the ones that change how you see the world.
That letter I received on my first day at HKS was right. Dreams do come true, including the ones you didn’t know you had. Your people are here. Go find them.
