Possibly an educator. Or perhaps an advocate for educational reform.

Andrew Zonneveld regards teaching as the most vital profession on the planet.

“Physicians are exceptional. Yet, physicians become who they are due to the influence of remarkable educators,” stated the first-generation college attendee from North Carolina.

Zonneveld ’26, majoring in government with a minor in educational studies, is enrolled at Harvard College with complete financial support. Graduating without debt enables him to focus on public service.

“I aspire to work as a public school educator for a few years,” expressed the Leverett House inhabitant.

“He often mentions returning to North Carolina to assist the schools there,” noted his mother, Jennifer Eirich. “I believe it greatly relates to the strong bonds he developed with his childhood teachers. However, I have a sense that there is something more significant awaiting him. Perhaps he will transform the educational system nationwide. Potentially he may enter politics.”

Zonneveld, who was brought up on a military base and has numerous servicemembers in his family, has shown interest in the confluence of education and policy from a young age. He reminisced about encouraging an elementary educator to create the school’s initial student government.

“I became the president in either third or fourth grade,” he recalled. “In my speech, I vowed that the principal would kiss a pig if we raised sufficient funds through Box Tops — remember those?”

Transitioning to Onslow Early College High School — a place where students pursue their diplomas while also gaining free credits from Coastal Carolina Community College — presented Zonneveld with another opportunity. He dedicated the summer prior to his freshman year to crafting a constitution for the student government association he later helped establish at the newly inaugurated public high school.

“I sensed his determination from the start,” recalled Hannah Padilla, a previous guidance counselor there. “Within a week or two, he had come out of his shell and was simply unapologetically Andrew: a committed student who had a clear vision for his future.”

The valedictorian of the Class of 2022 assumed he would enroll at North Carolina’s premier public university, which extended him a generous scholarship. “But it was still going to cost me 15 or 20 grand annually,” Zonneveld remarked.

Receiving an acceptance letter from Harvard College was an emotional moment — and completely unexpected after applying on a last-minute impulse. “No one from our county ever thought something like this could transpire,” Eirich expressed.

The family had been worried about managing college expenses, making the University’s offer a significant relief. “Financial aid is truly the sole reason I am at Harvard,” he affirmed. “It’s the only way I am able to afford it.”

The assistance also allows Zonneveld to have a more focused approach. In his early teens, he trained to be a lifeguard and sometimes worked full-time at local pools while completing high school.

At Harvard, Zonneveld has continued his role in teaching aquatics at the Malkin Athletic Center, but only because he relishes sharing his expertise. “I no longer have to work exhausting hours,” he mentioned.

Support from Harvard has also enabled other possibilities. Zonneveld secured an internship last summer at a research institution in Berlin thanks to the backing of the Government Department. Additionally, he journeyed to Thailand and Vietnam with Harvard Model Congress to educate high school students on policy and public speaking. Over spring break, he assisted the organization in running a government simulation with teenagers in Brussels.

“Financial aid didn’t just bring me here,” Zonneveld articulated. “It allowed me to explore the globe, see my family during breaks. It granted me access to opportunities I would have never encountered elsewhere.”