A tribute for parents, too

The commencement period is an occasion to honor the accomplishments of graduates, but behind each personal achievement lies a network of parents, relatives, and friends whose steadfast support has made obtaining each diploma feasible — or at least more manageable. Four families shared their narratives — and their pride — on the eve of the graduation ceremonies.

Full circle for family 

Gunjan and Gurmeet Batra traveled from Denver to honor their son, Arjun, who is graduating with a focus in electrical engineering. 

“It’s a deeply proud instant for our entire family,” said mom Gunjan amid the bustling Harvard Yard on Wednesday. “It’s been delightful to witness him navigate the process at such a prestigious institution. It has indeed been wonderful. We’re extremely proud of him.”

Arjun selected electrical engineering as he was inspired by a professor, and the decision holds a special significance for his family: His grandfather was also in the same field. 

Arjun expressed that his parents were there for him throughout. “I’d call them nightly to vent about a p-set or a course, and they’d assist me in getting through it all. I’d ring them multiple times daily. Their continuous support has been remarkable.”

Gurmeet noted it was a mixed feeling for his son.

“On one side, he’s graduating and stepping into new adventures,” he said. “On the other side, he’ll miss this place. College is where memories are crafted. He’s going to miss all of this.” 

More than a game

Owen Fanning always knew his goal: to compete in volleyball at a prestigious college.

For mom Carolyn, this meant years of transporting him to practices and matches during his high school days in Needham, Massachusetts. 

“Without immense support, individuals typically don’t reach this point,” said Owen, a physics major and outside hitter for the men’s volleyball team, as he expressed gratitude to his mom for driving him to “all those tournaments.”  

However, Carolyn redirected the accolades. “He definitely got himself here. We merely provided transportation.”

The Fannings relished coming into Cambridge to view Owen’s games. Carolyn remarked that the family will miss those outings but take pride in all that Owen has accomplished. 

“This was the aspiration,” she commented. “For us, it was worth every effort we invested.”

Celebrating alongside the Fannings at Class Day, the Diaks were marking their own volleyball success story.

Parents Nikki and Bradley were volleyball athletes themselves, and soon-to-be-graduate Callum honed his skills playing the game with them on Lake Ontario near their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 

“Without my parents, my passion for this sport wouldn’t be as strong,” Callum stated. 

Nikki expressed her pride in her son for taking the initiative to apply to Harvard as an international student, noting that being on a college team taught him about perseverance and resilience.

“He has grown tremendously, both personally and academically,” she said. “We are so proud of everything he has accomplished.” 

‘She could have chosen any university, and she opted to come here’

Sandra Villarreal posed for a photo with her daughter Ayleen in front of one of the campus’s most iconic landmarks: the statue of John Harvard.

For Villarreal and husband Sergio, who immigrated from Mexico before Ayleen’s birth, witnessing their daughter earn a Harvard degree was a goal decades in the making. The couple and their 15-year-old son Dylan traveled from El Paso, Texas, to partake in the Commencement.

“I consider myself fortunate to have brought my family here and to have given her the chance to choose any university she wished and pursue her dreams,” Sandra expressed in Spanish. 

Ayleen dedicated four and a half years to the U.S. Air Force before attending Harvard. She is graduating with a concentration in government and a secondary focus in global health and health policy. She envisions working in politics for several years before pursuing law school. 

“At Harvard, I discovered my passion for the law,” she stated. “I believe that laws, rules, and policies influence an individual’s daily life down to their biological cells. … I am immensely grateful for the academic experience at Harvard; I have gained so much within the government department and I deeply appreciate the professors. I will carry forward everything they have offered me to continue serving the United States.” 

Ayleen reflected on her unique journey compared to her classmates, being a Mexican American, a first-generation student, and a female veteran at the College — at one time, there were only five others. However, she hopes her story illustrates that differences can be overcome.

“I want young women in my community, in El Paso, Texas, or in Texas in general, to realize that achieving their dreams is attainable, even while being a minority in the United States,” she remarked. 

“I am incredibly proud of her for everything she has accomplished. It fills me with great pride,” her father Sergio commented in Spanish. “She seized every opportunity. She had numerous choices for university; it wasn’t restricted to just one or two. She could have gone to any institution, and she chose to come here. We are very pleased with her decision.”