'HDS Formed Me in Innumerable Ways': Elizabeth Leavitt, MDiv '09
On June 4, Liz Leavitt will graduate from Harvard Divinity School with a master of divinity degree. Below, she discusses the ways in which her experiences at HDS have helped to form her life; why incoming students should explore all of their options; and what her plans are for the future.
What were your initial expectations before you started at HDS? Similarly, was there anything that surprised you about the School when you first arrived?
I expected that HDS would be an academically rigorous, interreligious environment, preparing students for a variety of different professional paths.
When I first arrived, I must admit that I was surprised by how much my peers had already accomplished. Though a young class, the students had already begun to make their mark on the intellectual and religious landscape. Present among my colleagues was a wide array of personal, professional, cultural, and intellectual experience that really enhanced my experience in the classroom.
Academically, what was your focus?
Mostly, I focused on completing all the requirements for both HDS and my ordination and still graduating on time! More seriously though, I tried to take advantage of the myriad of options at HDS, dabbling in a number of different subjects and trying to learn from as many faculty as possible. Given that I was preparing for ministry in the Christian tradition, many of my classes were in the Christian scriptures and worship and liturgy.
How have you been personally impacted by your experiences at HDS? What, if anything, has changed about you as a result of your time here?
My experience at HDS has formed me in innumerable ways. My three years here have broadened my perspective of the work of ministry and the task of theological education. These years have also challenged my assumptions about interreligious work and learning. I have developed a deep appreciation for the diversity of religious experience and language, and I have the hope that good and serious work can be done that engages people of many faiths. Both within and outside the classroom, I was constantly called upon to integrate my study, my work, and my spiritual life in ways that nurtured all three.
Ultimately, the relationships I developed with the staff, faculty, and my peers have shaped me both as a person and a minister in ways I hope to carry with me into my future work.
What were some of the bigger challenges you faced as an HDS student?
It can be difficult to discern what you will get out of HDS given that your time is short and opportunities for development unending. I was challenged by what I would invest my time in and to decide what was reasonable for me in the time I had. Additionally, there were moments in which I wondered if I had missed out on a more traditional seminary experience, but I always came back to believing that HDS was the right place for me.
Do you have any advice for incoming students?
Yes! Don't limit yourself to the plan you had upon entering HDS. Some of the best classes and experiences I had were getting involved in things that I would never have dreamed of doing before I came here.
What are your future plans?
I have accepted a call to serve as a co-pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Waltham, Massachusetts. I will be ordained as a minister of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church, USA, on June 6, and I start work on July 1.
