Eeshal Khan, Class of '25

I first came across the Harvard Undergraduate Venture Tech Summer Program (HUVTSP) on Instagram in a reel. When I saw it offered a 100% scholarship, I thought that maybe, just maybe, I had a chance. Coming from a small city in Pakistan, a developing country, I had almost no access to opportunities like this. My family’s finances meant we could not afford application fees or participation in a program like this, but I decided to apply anyway. I borrowed the application fee from my aunt in Australia and a laptop from a friend to record my video interview. My phone was outdated, and my application was deleted more than 30 times before I finally managed to submit it. I recall reading through the opportunities this program offered in astonishment, it was all too good to believe and yes the experience surpassed the expectations I held.

For me, this was a dream. I believed this program could transform my future, making me a stronger and more accomplished person who could stand on a global platform. And yes, it did more than that. Being selected for HUVTSP became one of my proudest achievements. It showed me how even with its prestige, Harvard treats every student equally, with kindness, respect, and understanding.

During the program, I attended lectures by inspiring teachers like Mr. Caleb, joined office hours, and met participants with handmade projects, startups, and incredible achievements. Despite my more modest background, I was given the same opportunity as them.I remember the last day speech given by Mr.Caleb and it changed me, actually. I felt it, I become a different person but with the same perspective, I wanted to work for the betterment of the world, yes that has always been the case but after Harvard I know how to and I know I can. Asking Mr. Mark Cuban a question directly was one of the highlights of my life, and those moments fundamentally changed who I am.

Long before HUVTSP, I had already started initiatives at my school; leading environmental campaigns, creating programs for business students, and supporting animal welfare. These projects taught me to build something meaningful even with limited resources. But Harvard gave me the courage, exposure, and global perspective to scale my dreams further.

My future goal is to earn admission to a top university, gain financial independence, and give back to communities like the one I come from. I want to create opportunities for underprivileged students, showing them that even the most prestigious institutions can be within reach. One day, I hope to give back to Harvard too, not only to repay what it gave me but to extend its impact to others. I have a dream of working for the establishment of an education system that's just, that supports dreams and careers that actually get you somewhere you deserve to be.

I want my journey to show other young people from small cities that nothing is too far out of reach if you’re willing to work for it.