Harvard, Health Scares, Hope: My 2 years in the USA

It's been exactly two years since I landed in the USA to pursue my Masters in Public Health at Harvard. Two years that feel like a lifetime and a blink of an eye all at once. When people ask me, "How was your time at Harvard?" I'm never quite sure how to answer. It's been... a blur.

Academically, it was rewarding. I love learning, so that was the easy part. Some other parts didn't come as easy. Typical international student struggles were the minor ones and I thought I knew what to expect––

Did I see any cultural differences? Check.
Is my accent changing? Yep.
Filing taxes on my own? Yes, and I don't like it
Craving real Asian food? Always.. The major struggle? The sleepless nights worrying about my parents' health (and worrying about finding a meaningful job is a close second). I guess I did not anticipate everything when I packed my bags two years ago.

My original plan - finish 3 semester in peace, learn a lot, and figure out next steps. But life had other plans...

First Semester: Dad's Surgery

Two months into my program, I was having lunch with a senior in our graduate program. She was telling me about how much the program had changed her life, and helped her grow in amazing ways. It was one of those conversations that gives you hope - that affirms you're in the right place.

Minutes after this meeting, I checked my phone. There were 5 missed phone calls from my brother. It was 2 am in India.

I immediately called him back, and he told me dad had a seizure attack and fainted during his daily 10K run. They were in the hospital the whole day, and the CT scan had revealed a brain tumor and that he needed surgery. As I raced and panicked, my sister joined in the conversation and reassured me that it was a small and benign tumor and it would be an easy surgery. "Concentrate on your biostatistics final next week", she said. "Everything will be fine", she said.

EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE- a phrase I have breathed more than a thousand times since I have been here. Thankfully, the surgery went well.

Second Semester: Mom's Turn

Two months passed by! Just when I thought I could breathe again. Imagine my second panic attack when I received another call -- this time, my mother needed surgery to remove an extremely rare malignant tumor in her thyroid gland. It was like history was repeating itself, with my mom on the operation table this time, getting a thyroidectomy. Out of superstition, I avoided going back home this time because I wanted my mom to come out of that surgery, healthy and thriving, just like my dad. It was the winter break, and the gut-wrenching pain I experienced still gives me nightmares. My dreams never felt smaller, I started finding comfort in silence, as each phone call brought with it the possibility of more bad news. After the successful surgery, my mum recovered slowly. I remember telling my dad- I had aged years in just a few months. There are many ways to be brave in this world. Sometimes, we can climb a mountain or give a speech. And other times it involves moving to a new country, leaving everything you have ever known, and everyone you have ever loved, for the sake of something greater. As a first generation international student in the US, I knew I would face many challenges but I never imagined it would give me so much distress, and so many sleepless nights.

Let's face it, aging parents and being an international student are like having two full-time jobs. Day or night––you're always on call, juggling emotions, waking up in the middle of the night, praying that your spidey senses can somehow detect any trouble from halfway across the world.

But there's a silver lining to this emotional circus. I've learned to appreciate the little moments, home-cooked meals, the video calls that make the distance feel shorter, and the laughs we share despite the miles between us. Then, after a year, when I finally returned home, I was pampered like a princess (by everyone!). And, the food's just out of the world!

Third Semester: My Turn on the Health Rollercoaster After a month of pampering at home, I returned to the US for my final semester, determined to give it my all. During the class shopping week, I was in my element, diving into everything Harvard had to offer. One morning, while trying out a negotiating class at HGSE, I decided to zip home on my electric scooter during the lunch break. Boom, I fell (well, I guess...) I have no recollection of the accident. One moment I was cruising along, the next I was in pain, concussed, and utterly confused. In the haze of injury, I couldn't remember why I was in a foreign country. My eyes searched for my parents, not recalling that I owned an electric scooter or that I was studying at Harvard. At the hospital, a dose of morphine unleashed a flood of emotions. Thankfully, I could remember things when my doctors called my friends – I'm more grateful for their support than words can express in this post. They know it! Lessons Learned This rollercoaster ride taught me two very important lessons:

Life moves on, whether we act as cowards or heroes. We can just 'Accept Life' as it is. I've found that journaling and meditation help maintain emotional equanimity when things spin out of control.
It's okay – even necessary – to lean on others for support. No one is an island, especially not in a foreign land (lol).

Looking back on these two years in the US, I'm amazed at how much I've grown. I've learned, made lifelong friends, and gained a whole new appreciation for life. Yes, there are still things I'm figuring out – aren't we all?

So, how were my two years at Harvard? They were challenging, rewarding, terrifying, and transformative. There were sleepless nights and breakthrough moments. There were worries and surprises in equal measure.

My fellow international students... May your emotional juggling be always in your favor!