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I wrote the following poem at the end of my first year at Harvard. My freshman year in many ways symbolized constant movement and communication. Experiencing such a persistent stream of interaction on campus left little time for solitude. Bonding with friends, engaging in late-night conversations and meeting new people was a very rewarding experience — but simultaneously very exhausting. Particularly, as an introverted person who gains energy from alone time, I felt very drained by the end of the year. So once my final exam of the spring semester ended, I retreated to my room and finally allowed myself to have the extended alone time that I had been yearning for all semester. It was the most peaceful I had felt in months. I cherish these moments of reflectance and stillness above all else. Through my poem I hope to emphasize that though these times of complete stillness are minuscule and easily overlooked, they are essential components to my well-being, as they provide me with increased self-understanding.
I had forgotten what it felt like to be truly alone,
to be enthralled by the silent lull of solitude.
In the chaos of everyday life, one is so bombarded with the vicious tides of chaos
that true silence is forgotten.
It first becomes a rarity —
but eventually metamorphosizes into a myth.
And then the one golden day arrives: The silence resumes. And it is always a shock, a surprise when suddenly that embrace of silence engulfs you.
But though it is an untimely guest, it is never an unwelcomed visitor.
For what a gift it is to soak into the tranquil tone of silence.
To forever bathe into its delicious aura &
submerge yourself into the sea of nothingness.
To do nothing more than exist in a moment
enveloped by an echoing hush.
And in this momentary reticence,
I am inundated with the creative outbursts which wash over me.
The paintbrush of life brings color to my mind’s own eye.
And in this stillness I see the most magnificent creature I have ever laid eyes on:
Peace — and she is ever-abounding.
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More on Mental Health on Campus:
What Campus Mental Health Centers Are Doing to Keep Up With Student Need
If You’re a Student Who’s Struggling With Mental Health, These 7 Tips Will Help
The Hidden Stress of RAs in the Student Mental Health Crisis