Noah Harris, a native of
Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is the first African American to serve as student
body president at the prestigious Harvard University, now in its 384th
year. Harris is studying law. His Vice President, Asian American Jenny Gan, is
a majoring in neuroscience.
Speaking recently to Black Parent Magazine, Harris says he is
up for the challenge of serving his first year in a pandemic. Like all Harvard
students, he has been studying virtually, currently in the Boston area, and
even campaigned remotely. “Because we are virtual, the entire campaign was
online and on social media. That made the process very different from what I
have been used to in the past.”
Harris and Gan’s campaign
slogan was “Building Tomorrow’s Harvard.”
Harris understands his
important position and does not shy away from the idea that African American
youngsters are now looking to him for cues. “I do consider myself a role
model,” he says. “I strive to be someone that young people would want to look
up to. I am always trying to learn from others and be available to anyone who
needs advice.”
Even before being elected
student body president, Harris took the role of advisor and elder seriously
enough to write the children’s book, Successville.
The book is aimed at children aged 3 to 7.
Harris says, “I wrote [Successville] to show kids they can do anything if they are willing
to do the work and focus on their education. In the book, Ms. Jones teaches her
class about this place called Successville
after she catches them not paying attention again. The kids soon learn everyone
has a Successville in their lives,
and they will have to get their act together if they ever want to make it
there.
Successville represents the
place where people achieve their own versions of success. This place is based
on a combination of goals, hard work, and talent. Everyone's Successville is a different place
because only we know when we have given our all in an effort to make our dreams
a reality.”
When asked what inspires him,
Harris is quick to cite his parents, and to credit them with much of his
success: “They have been so encouraging. They were the ones who told me I could
do anything if I put my mind to it. They showed me that if I worked hard in
school from a young age, that would pay off for me.
If it were not for my mom,
I would not have even applied to Harvard. They both have believed in me from
the beginning. They are also so hardworking. They were the first generation in
their families to go to college, and they have provided a great life for my
sister Peyton and me.”