President Larry Bacow met with visiting students from his hometown of Pontiac, Michigan on March 3, 2023. The group shared experiences growing up in Pontiac, although Bacow confessed he never imagined being Harvard’s president as a child. He added that “life happens,” explaining how his education and career path took him in many unexpected directions.
Bacow shared with the students—several of them graduating seniors—how the transition to college can be challenging but provides great opportunities for growth and discovery. He urged all them to be open to new possibilities. Noting that his tenure as president began with a trip to his hometown, Bacow remarked that with the students’ visit, his presidency will “start and end with Pontiac.”
