Each year Harvard Business School graduates ask themselves a simple question
taken from the last lines of a poem by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Mary Oliver.
But, sometimes simple questions aren’t so simple to answer.
YOU tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
posted by wdydwyd at 11:38 PM
THE SUMMER DAY by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan,
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean -
the one who has flung herself
out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar
out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down -
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open,
and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a
prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing
all day.
Tell me, what else should I
have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
24 Comments:
In reference to the portrait of Chris Williams, Class of 2006
Re: "I want to meet the girl of my dreams…and this time she'll be single." Doesn't the girl also need to have met the guy of her dreams? Best of luck.
Kudos to Chris Williams!
His portrait is spot-on; it truly reflects what everyone hopes for, Harvard Business School or not.
As for Panda's comment, isn't it pretty clear, from everything else Chris wrote, that he will not have a problem finding the girl?!
this is a beautiful "portrait" of thoughtful, loving, intelligent young people.....our world is going to be better with these leaders bringing us together. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
A beautiful project! I am humbled, touched, inspired, and astounded every time I read these portraits. Thank you for providing a wonderful glimpse into the rich diversity and depth among my HBS classmates.
Did the class of 2007 participate?
I'm using these portraits to convince my friend to go to HBS. He's probably going to be accepted to every B-school he applies to. I feel HBS' alumni network will be the best choice.
I love this project.. when are you posting the class 2007 portraits???????
i always thought that harvard grads would be a bunch o extremely serious people (with no comphrehensive communicatin wid th common world skills) but i was so off base its ridiculous!!...after readin their brilliant n inspirin words my dream to someday make it to harvard has intensified...m comin so u guys better watch out!!... :)
Wonderfully said Bianca Tabourn
I can relate when you said "falling short of everyone's expectations of a Super Woman" it's good every now and then to feel vulnerable.....Human.
Thanks to Tony Deifell, the creator.
I saw this ‘Portrait Project’ in HBS general event in Tokyo in September, 2008. The real student's portrait & essay gave me the example one whom I’ll meet in the future class 2011.
It gave me a passion to contribute such as matured peers in HBS, casting away negative competition.
Hardly finding this ‘portrait project’ web site makes me assume what HBS expects from prospective candidate. The assumption would be transformed from ‘crack’ in essay of Tony Deifell.
Thank you for creation this bootstrapping riddle.
-From Seoul-
Thanks to Tony Deifell, the creator.
I saw this ‘Portrait Project’ in HBS general event in Tokyo in September, 2008. The real student's portrait & essay gave me the example one whom I’ll meet in the future class 2011.
It gave me a passion to contribute such as matured peers in HBS, casting away negative competition.
Hardly finding this ‘portrait project’ web site makes me assume what HBS expects from prospective candidate. The assumption would be transformed from ‘crack’ in essay of Tony Deifell.
Thank you for creation this bootstrapping riddle.
-from Seoul-
Most of the respondents don't seem to be answering the question... these seem more like personal statements from their admissions applications.
I write from Hyderabad, India. This Portrait project has given an insight into the world of HBS that I would only dream of and has strengthened my desire to be a part of this community. I feel more confident of being what I have always wanted to be and makes me believe I am not dreaming.
To Brian Elliot:
Pope John Paul II at a youth coference in Denver, Colorado stated and I paraphrase, "We do not have a problem with world hunger. The problem is where the food is and how to get it to those that are hungry." Therefore, if you can convince Anmerican society to eat what they need to sustain themselves and donate the remaining money spent on food left spoiling in refrigerators, thrown away at restaurants or at home, you will solve world hunger. Tell me, did you or your friends through away any food today? If so, you contributed to world hunger.
This was inspiring. I will do this same exercise for myself. I will attend HBS one day and I too will be clearer about my vision of myself and the world. The 2009 class sound like they are ready to take life head on to be of service to others. The world seems to be heading in a new direction that is full of passion, compassion, skill, and LOVE. Thanks.
Keith Anthony Lewis
Lehman College, NYC
The stories and perpectives are inspiring. thanks!
It is unbelieving how people can write their thoughts so clearly and make the other person belive in, he can also think; for the society.
It is unbelieving how people can write their thoughts so clearly and make the other person belive in, he can also think; for the society.
hi ,
i become happy to hear about aim of business students ....they are talking about social equity ,social justice and social resposibility.... i am also a business student in pakistan (IBM UET LAHORE a newly born institute in PAKISTAN) i wish their aims towards a prosperous and socially equit world bring a change in the world. These are future leaders and i pray for them may GOD bestowed them success in the way of prosperity of world and dignity of humans.
Syed Abid Ali
Jugnu of UET-CS
now student of IBM-UET Lahore ,Pakistan
I read some of the portraits though i want to read all but i just want to thank you to that mind who created this. It really made me to feel to identify myself and my dreams. I have a great respect and honor for Harvard Students. They are the best and i wish each and everyone of them to achieve there set goals in there life and to become successful.
This Portrait Project is really good and beautiful. It inspires guys like me. Thanks again :)
I would like to contemplate on the question - do we live just once? I don't know, since I have not yet experienced death. Is it precious? I don't know, because I can't fathom when life ever was cheap. Is it wild? I don't know, since all that happens is just the way things are; there is nothing abnormal about it.
Everyone in this project has amazing ideas...make them true guys!
From Paris,
a very special thought for the Portrait of Marlène Ngoyi, simply Great!!!! and a touching story of Jeanine Barnett.
Beautiful project and thanks to all for sharing.
Santosh Pradhan
Kathmandu Nepal
This project provided me with an opportunity to know what are the true values of my potential alumni. After reading the portraits I am looking forward even more to be a part of such community and contribute to the better world!
Wow, I can hardly imagine how creative and imaginative every 900 odd student at HBS truly is. I can't even imagine any ordinary candidate earning a spot in HBS each year. With good grades/life experiences, work experience, etc just as with the cream of the top schools, I am now led to believe that a large portion of the crowd could get filtered out based on their underlying passions/motivations/purpose of coming to HBS and the selected candidates will have obviously expressed their originality and creativity as well in the process. Kudos to you all.
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