In the mess of over-worked, sleepless, zombie-esque students in Lamont, there is one person who stands out: Jarrod Wetzel-Brown. It is no surprise that Jarrod is a PAF, HealthPAL, and Stressbuster Student Masseur—he truly is the person you want to be around during finals period. He always remains collected and takes on challenges with a smile. Speaking to him about anything is a breath of fresh air and his kindness and happiness is contagious. He describes himself as lively, amiable, and compassionate, but not even those words do justice to his incredible personality. If you don’t believe me, just read on about him below.
House: Winthrop
Year: Junior (Class of 2017)
Concentration: English with a Pre-Med Orientation
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Where do you see yourself in the future?
In the next ten years or so, I want to travel the world and experience what its many beautiful places, people, and cultures have to offer. I hope to meet the woman of my dreams, and I plan to marry her and begin a family. I also hope to be done with my schooling for at least a few years and will begin practicing pediatric medicine in my own family practice. I do not really know what I shall be doing in the future, but I do know is that I shall greet life with a smile and work tirelessly to encourage jollity wherever I may be. ☺
What are you involved with on campus? What makes those activities meaningful to you?
I am a proud PAF for Thayer Dormitory, both a HealthPAL and the resident Stressbuster Student Masseur for Winthrop House, and I also work in the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter every Saturday night. As you can probably deduce from the extracurricular activities I associate myself with, I love people. I enjoy conversing and interacting with them, learning alongside them, and assisting and informing them if ever given the chance to do so. Mentoring is important to me because I want my “PAFees,” or the freshman students that I mentor, to know that someone will always believe in them, and I feel as though that information sometimes comes as a surprise to struggling students. Sometimes you need someone to hope alongside you, and I want to be that person.
I also believe that wellness is a substantial part of every student’s life, and thus I advocate the importance of taking care of one’s self constantly by encouraging relaxation and informing students of their available health resources on campus. I also believe that I should be giving back to the Harvard community since it bestows upon me so many daily treasures, and that is why I love volunteering at the shelter. Getting involved is important to me because I feel as though I am giving back to a place that has given so much to me already, and getting to meet some of the most phenomenal people I will ever know is also a huge plus. ☺
What has been your best Harvard experience so far?
I must say that the daily interactions I have with friends, both new and old, are probably all pieces of the “best experience” I have had at Harvard. I have met so many astounding individuals here at college, and they are the ones who are truly shaping my experience here. For that, I am eternally grateful, and every experience has been a gift or lesson thanks to the support of my friends, professors, and every beautiful being on this campus.
Any Winter Break Plans?
I am headed back to Kalamazoo to brave the winter with my friends, loved ones, and my bed. I believe that some rest is long overdue for all of us, and I am looking forward to holiday parties, cooking, and glimpse of past childhood magic that comes with the holiday season. I am also genuinely excited to spend my month-long bout of complete and utter idleness alongside my dear twin brother, mother, and dog. ☺
What is on your Christmas List this year?
To be completely honest, the only thing I really need is some time with my family and friends from home. I miss them terribly, and they spoil me so much already during the rest of the year. I just want to have them in my arms again, and then my happiness will be complete.
What is the most embarrassing story you’re willing to share?
The summer after my freshman year in high school, I thought I was a cool cat because I had just received my first cellphone for my birthday. Even though many of my friends already had cellphones, I was so proud of my little flip-phone and now being able to call my parents and twin anywhere without having to seek out a landline telephone first. I thought I would show of my new phone to my friends at a pool party a month or so later, and I put the device in the pocket of my bathing suit on the way to the event. I arrived at the party, began catching up with friends, and then we all got into the pool without a second thought. I swam for about ten minutes and then received a nasty shock in my right leg. My eyes grew wide as saucers, and I realized that I had doomed both my cellphone and pride to a chlorinated grave. I jumped out of the pool, reached into my swim trunks, and I pulled out what was once a functioning phone. When a steady dribble of water came pouring out of the screen, I knew that I had made a BIG mistake. The embarrassing part is that I still managed to say, “Look at my new cellphone” with a goofy grin even as the device cried pool water for all to see.
Best advice you can give someone during exam period?
Make time to share a meal with friends. Sleep at least 7 hours a night. Call your parents. Take a walk. People need to remember that Reading and Exam Period is a time for a little less structure and a little more “me-time” before the final rush of exams, papers, and projects. I obviously recommend studying fervently for your respective obligations, but so many students lose sight of the fact that they will NOT perform well and succeed at test-taking or essay-writing if they fail to ace the exam called “Everyday Life.”
Favorites:
Food: Anything sweet. I especially love vanilla ice cream with Michigan blueberries and chocolate sauce or fresh pineapple doused in honey.
Book: The Iron Tree by Cecilia Dart-Thorton. A good romance gets me every time.
Music Genres: Alternative, Classical, and Dream Pop. I love bands that are not quite as well-known as mainstream artists, and I like the music I listen to mean something to me.
Quote: This one is for all of the family and friends who make my life worth living. “How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” –A.A. Milne
Place on Campus: The Center for European Studies’ Courtyard. It is positively perfect to study in and enjoy a lunch filled with birdsong and sunshine in the warmer months.
What would you do if you won the lottery and had to spend it all within a month?
I would buy numerous houses across the world to gift to my family conveniently without the worry of a mortgage. If saving the money counts as spending it as well, then I would also begin hefty college funds for my future family, and I would make certain that my immediate family members and myself were financially secure for the rest of our days in this world.