Devotion to advocacy cultivated at home

Maryam Guerrab asserts that her upbringing, as one of five offspring of Algerian immigrants, ignited her fervor for advocacy.

“Engagement in public service is of utmost significance to me, largely due to my upbringing. I am part of a sizable immigrant family whose parents are both working-class individuals,” Guerrab remarked. “I’ve encountered numerous challenges faced by various communities through both my personal journey and the professional paths I’ve undertaken.”

At Harvard, Guerrab is majoring in government on the political economy track.

“I believed that delving into government, gaining insights into the local and economic institutions that influence our contemporary world, shaping how people navigate their lives and the challenges they encounter, would be the most effective way to stand up for people’s rights,” she expressed.

Now merely months from graduation, Guerrab harbored doubts about applying.

“I never considered Harvard as a possibility for me. It appeared to be this almost enchanted place where the elite members of society would attend, and that wasn’t me,” said the 21-year-old from North Carolina. “I was fortunate enough to know I would go to college, but I assumed it would be a state school or one nearby.”

She became aware of Harvard’s financial aid program during high school, but humorously told her family that she’d likely never gain admission.

“My parents exhibited this unwavering confidence when I mentioned I was submitting my application,” she reflected. “I was like, ‘Mom, I don’t think you understand that very few applicants are accepted, and I’m unsure if I can make it.’ And it was always, ‘It’ll work out! Don’t worry.’”

Mom turned out to be right.

Guerrab stated that receiving financial support and not having to stress over college expenses has enabled her “to excel as a student, explore opportunities that might not have been feasible otherwise.”

The senior has obtained two Priscilla Chan Summer Service Stipends and plans to reapply this summer. This grant allowed her to travel to Belgrade and Serbia to collaborate with the refugee organization IDEAS: The Center for Research and Development of Society.

Additionally, she received a launch grant, which is part of the assistance given to students on full financial aid to support post-Harvard expenses, such as materials for Medical College Admission Test preparation (she intends to apply in May) and textbooks.

She further noted: “I recognize the privilege that I have acquired, and I aim to utilize it to give back.”

Guerrab mentioned that she believes she has made her most significant impact during her college years as a case management director for Y2Y Network, an organization providing overnight accommodations for unhoused youth in Greater Boston. This role enabled her to connect with young program participants and guide other Harvard student volunteers.

“What propels my relentless pursuit of both my studies and community service is my enthusiasm to deliver the best service possible and to seize every opportunity,” Guerrab stated. “Harvard is a rare opportunity — academically, [the chance to] learn from individuals with varied experiences. Harvard grants me the chance to absorb as much information as I can about the fields I am passionate about.”

She added: “Applying what I’ve learned in the classroom to inform how I engage with the communities I assist is incredibly vital.”

Amidst her studies and volunteer commitments, Guerrab ventured beyond her comfort zone by joining the mountaineering club on campus. She acknowledged that outdoor pursuits were less accessible during her upbringing.

“I never considered it something I wanted to pursue,” she admitted. “The Mountaineering Club was definitely something I thought, ‘I’m just going to attempt something adventurous and see how it goes.’”

Guerrab shared that her inaugural mountaineering expedition to the Boston Basin of North Cascade National Park in Washington was a transformative moment, both mentally and physically, revealing her resilience.

“It taught me that I am capable of achieving anything, even in challenging situations,” she expressed.