Tim Han

Year of Graduation: 
2018
Exeter student Tim Han on campus

"The diversity of opinion and experiences have provided me opportunities for growth far greater than anything my hometown could have."

To me, Exeter is a school of opportunity. The school has endless resources to offer and chooses to put them in the hands of its students. Because we are all equals when seated around a table, Harkness teaching lends opportunity for me to not only initiate discussion and contribute what I understand, but also ask my classmates questions about what I don’t understand. It gives me the freedom to take initiative by pushing me to discover new concepts and provides guidance and interesting perspectives from some of the sharpest peers and teachers in the world.

Han downtown by the Exeter River.

The reason Harkness works so well is because of the diversity of each classroom and the life experiences each of us brings to the table. Coming from a 90 percent Caucasian suburb of Milwaukee, the diversity of my hometown pales in comparison to that of Exeter. In my small dormitory of 11, we have two Asians, two Latinos, two African-Americans, two Jews and three Caucasians. Distinguished not only by race alone, some of us in Gould House are the sons of multi-millionaires while others are full-financial aid students. Some are deeply conservative and some liberal. We all play different sports. The diversity of opinion and experiences here at Exeter have provided me opportunities for growth far greater than anything my hometown could have.

However, Exeter offers as many opportunities for growth outside the classroom as within. Before Exeter, I never would have imagined being able to study abroad, but last month I found out that I’ll have the opportunity this summer to go to Bibracte, France to work on an archaeological dig and visit ancient Roman towns with the Classical Languages Department.

Han posing with a friend at Abbott Casino, an annual night of fun and games.

Han posing with a friend at Abbott Casino, an annual night of fun and games.

On campus, we have more than 150 clubs. The best part is all the clubs are student-led. Before I came to Exeter, I never imagined participating in either the number or the quality of the clubs offered here. To give an example from just the few clubs I am personally involved in, the first weekend of February I had a choice to go to a Debate tournament in Connecticut, Model United Nations conference at Boston University, Certamen Tournament (a Latin quiz bowl) in Boston or a Mock Trial competition at a state court here in New Hampshire. Out of those tournaments, Exeter’s debate team placed highly, we won Outstanding Small Delegation and nine individual awards in Model UN, received the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team trophies in Certamen, and took home the 1st, 3rd and 4th-place team trophies and two of six individual trophies in Mock Trial.

Exeter has given me the opportunity to learn in a whole new, interactive way with Harkness in the classroom and furthered that education by providing me with opportunities for growth in everything I am passionate about..