Hah-vard

No one was/is more proud of Stefan’s ACT score than my brother Mike— he paraded around his office announcing the news, called all his friends and bragged to any stranger who would listen.

A few days after receiving the news he sent me a text of this photo:

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Stefan– age 2

Moments later he called me, “I have a lot of Skymiles. I’m sending you and Stefan to Boston, he needs to look at Harvard.”

Did I say yes? Of course. Did I cry? Yes, oh yes, I can’t imagine a sweeter gesture from my brother.

Everyone who knew me as a little girl was aware that my fondest dream was to attend Harvard: I read books about it, scribbled ‘Harvard’ in notebooks like a boyfriend’s name and wore my singular Harvard sweatshirt to shreds. That dream persisted until my senior year of high school when I obtained an application and learned that Harvard offered no financial aid to middle-class white girls. BYU offered what I needed and I don’t regret my life path.

Stefan doesn’t need to fulfill my dream (he has plenty of his own) but I want to offer him that option, the chance to look.

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Harvard Yard

At the airport and on the plane, neither Stefan or I could get used to the lack of little people. Stefan kept turning his head from side to side–“I’m just used to looking out for my siblings.” he explained. Traveling with one child– especially a seventeen year old who is more responsible that me– is GLORIOUS.

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yes, Mary and Stefan are out of focus and the fence is nice and sharp. I make mistakes like that all the time.

Once in Boston, darling Mary Staples met us at the subway stop and we strolled to her apartment. Mary is the original ‘101 pounds of fun’: the ultimate hostess, the cheeriest friend, the most creative decorator. I feel pretty cool to have a 25 year old friend to call on for visits to Beantown.

Converted from a hotel, Mary’s apartment building has an old-world sort of glamour. Although there is an elevator at the beginning of this hallway, Mary always walks to the elevator at the end in order to soak in the ambiance. That’s just the sort of quirk I love about Mary.

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The couch and air mattress were all made up for us with cheery quilts and Swiss chocolates on our pillows. Can you imagine anything more fitting for Boston than lobster shaped flags? Told ya, she’s the hostess with the mostest.

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a peek at Mary-style
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the chalkboard over her stove–Mary truly lives these words.

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looking east from Mary’s apartment

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Mike told me we HAD to eat at the Chart House. How could I disobey? Stefan and I shared his first lobster.

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Boston at night.

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First thing in the morning, we indulged in the famous Boston Duckboat tour; it’s the kind of thing you never do with six kids, but it seems completely reasonable with one.

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And then, off to Harvard. By the time we reached the station, I was giddy– Stefan had to keep a hand on my shoulder to keep my feet on the ground.

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We attended an informational meeting and then a tour given by current students. Some really cool things about Harvard:

1. the first week of school is called ‘shopping week.’ Students may attend as many classes as they desire and at the end of the week choose the 4-5 courses for the semester. Classrooms are changed to meet demand; not the other way around.

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2. over 500 student groups are offered on campus: 5 orchestras, rowing, fencing, football and of course, an LDS Institute.

3. all freshmen live on campus, and not just close to campus but on Harvard Yard in buildings like this:

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4. even better, all freshman eat in Annenberg Hall. Doesn’t it remind you of Hogwarts? I had to steal this photo from the internet since they don’t allow photography in the hall.

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5. those eleven AP classes Stefan has been toiling over? Harvard won’t give credit– but they are awfully glad you took them and they might help you get in.

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6. they quote the Bible on buildings; I like that, I really like that.

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7. After freshman year, the student body is divided into houses where they spend the rest of theur undergraduate career. Each house has it’s own dining hall, fitness center, photo studio etc. Are you sensing a Hogwarts theme? This is Lowell house.

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8. the Harry Elkins Widener Library was built with donations from Harry’s mother after he died on the Titanic. According to legend, the funds were donated with three stipulations: 1. every student must pass a swim test in order to avoid Harry’s fate. 2. an exact replica of Harry’s personal library must be placed in the center and one page of his Gutenberg Bible turned each day. 3. because another building was torn down to make way for this library and Harry’s mother worried that someone more rich and powerful than her might tear this library down, she stipulated that no brick, column or mortar could be removed. In 1997, the college realized that she never mentioned the foundation– they dug four stories down and one hundred yards out across the yard to create what is now 57 miles of bookshelves and over 3 million volumes (and that’s just one of many libraries on campus).

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I borrowed this photo of the library from Mary. She takes fantastic photos– visit her blog, you’ll be completely charmed.



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Erik flew in at the tail end of a business trip to meet us.

After eating at Giacomo’s (you MUST go there if in Boston) and indulging in cannoli from Mike’s Pastry, we walked over the Harvard Bridge to visit MIT the next day.

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I’m afraid we fell in love with MIT too. The highlights:

1. in January, students don’t have to be on campus and there are no required classes. However, there are over 300 optional classes– everything from chocolate making, to charm school, snowboarding, Eastern Religions and knitting. For people who love to learn, it’s an absolute fantasy. If Stefan attends MIT do you think I could spend all of January with him?

2. no classes are held between 5-7 pm in an effort to encourage students to participate in extracurriculars. MIT is known for excelling at ‘pirate sports’: rowing, sailing, fencing, shooting etc. Heaven for my sword weilding boy.

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3. MIT has a great sense of humor. Students take pride in ‘hacking’- creating ingenious pranks. Again, so Stefan.

4. Yes, the most common major at MIT is engineering, but you can also major in French, English Literature and all kinds of Liberal Arts majors.

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the student life building

5. Students at MIT have temporary dorms and temporary roommates the first week; they want to give everyone a chance to find the place they are most happy.

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6. MIT students are proud of being nerds– as our tour guide said, “We all like Star Wars and Harry Potter.” The gift shop is full of t-shirts emblazoned with “Nerd Power.” Stefan took one look at this tee for Hans and said, “Oh, that says M-I-T in mathematical terms.” Hmm, would have taken me all year to figure that out; I guess Stefan really is smart.

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For now, preparing for SAT subject tests and filling out applications for schools and scholarships are like a part-time job for Stefan. His decision will come down to acceptance letters and finances. But I am so, so grateful that he has choices. I’m indebted to his wonderful teachers and to Ben, who led by example. It’s amazing to note how many people it took just to make this trip possible: my brother for the tickets, darling Mary and her brilliant husband Derek to host us, our adorable friends Kit and Kevin who watched our four younger kiddos while we were gone.

I don’t know what Stefan’s dream is; he doesn’t know. But I am grateful to all those who help him along the path.

September 16, 2011
September 21, 2011

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17 Comments

  1. jen

    September 19, 2011

    i’m so glad that you and stefan got to make the trip to boston to check out harvard, mit, and to have some great tourism opportunities. you guys are seriously blessed.

  2. Selwyn

    September 19, 2011

    That’s awesome.

  3. Linn

    September 19, 2011

    I’m so glad you both had such a wonderful experience! And to think, I live 30 minutes from all of that. Boston really is more than charming–it is just something else.

  4. Ang

    September 19, 2011

    HOW. COOL. Seriously.

  5. k. novella

    September 19, 2011

    that is SO COOL! i hope he gets to do whatever his heart desires. good luck stefan!

  6. ellen

    September 19, 2011

    I work at MIT — I wish I had run into you! Boston is amazing. I hope he ends up here. 🙂

  7. Judi

    September 19, 2011

    how exciting!!! and what a lovely place. i hope all of stefan’s dreams come true, whatever they are.

  8. Lisa

    September 19, 2011

    Do we get to vote…just wondering! How about that photo of little Stefan in the Harvard sweatshirt, pretty darn cute! Good luck Stefan…can’t wait to see what you decide.

  9. Mary Staples

    September 20, 2011

    How fun was this trip? I for one am crossing my fingers for Stefan. Love to have any of the Lehnardts in Beantown on a more permanent basis! Xox

  10. Kim

    September 20, 2011

    Next time you are in Boston you have to tell me!

  11. Annie

    September 20, 2011

    You make our town look divine! I’ve said this before but I’ll say it again: if he comes here, Stefan has another (sounds like we’ll all have to fight it out) home-away-from-home here in Concord. Happy applying and deciding! Well done, all of you.

  12. nanny

    September 21, 2011

    I was drooling over all those pictures of my heritage. I LOVE CAMBRIDGE and grew up in Sudbury. I worked at Harvard and everything about New England is magical. It was so sweet of you to share your trip. Best of luck to Stefan wherever he decides to go to school!

  13. Claudia

    September 21, 2011

    So amazing! What a fun trip for the two of you. Stefan looks like he’d fit right in. Wherever he goes, they are LUCKY to have him!

  14. Tracy

    September 23, 2011

    So dang exciting. I love your matching red shoes. 😉 I cannot wait to see where these big decisions take him. xo

  15. Cath

    September 23, 2011

    Finally reading this post. And drooling. Such a gift from your brother. Mary is indeed charming. Loved seeing Stefan in Harvard yard. But I must say, January at MIT is so tempting. Still, I remain rather firmly in the Harvard camp. 😉 Congratulations to you Stefan. How exciting to have the world knocking at your door.

  16. Rachelle

    September 23, 2011

    I love Boston! We went for our 20th wedding anniversary. We walked around Harvard campus. So much character and history. We had cannolis at Mike’s Pastry, too!

  17. Mara Kofoed

    October 4, 2011

    I am DYING over your photos. So beautiful. My husband and I got married in Boston and now live in NYC. We just started a blog that you may enjoy…it’s about marriage, divorce, infertility, hope, happiness, love, and being a Mormon in NYC. We are trying to spread our message of hope to as many people as possible.

    {A Blog About Love} http://www.ablogaboutlove.com

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