Leah Harries ‘24

Other clubs, sports, activities you’d like to mention: 
Smith College Rugby

Describe your major for someone who has never heard of your field before. 
You know when you go to the beach, and poke a jellyfish with a stick or throw seaweed at your sister? It’s that but with a microscope and you have to read a bunch of papers first.

If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be? 
The moon landing would be pretty cool.

What’s your all-time favorite Smith memory? 
The end of sophomore spring, sitting by the pond with my friends. It was a glorious day, and we brought a watermelon, bread, cheese, and drank mimosas under the sun. I always think back to that moment, and it reminds me to slow down and enjoy my time here.

What's something people often get wrong about your major? 
People often think that biology majors can be pretty restrictive. It’s all pipetting in a lab and writing super long papers. The beauty of a bio major, for me, is that it’s whatever you want it to be. My interests lie in ecosystem function and ocean acidification, and on the integrative track I can study different ways to approach those topics. I can study the genetic drift of species and populations, the water chemistry associated with acidification, but also the ways in which we communicate science to non-scientists. The bio major is built in a way that allows creativity and flexibility in your learning. 

Describe a moment that particularly sticks with you. 
This rugby team played an incredible season this semester, and we ended up the NEWCRC Champions for our division. The final game was so long and honestly grueling, we were losing at half time but brought it back in the end. Standing on the pitch watching my best friends (and beautiful captains) lift that trophy with my entire team around me was electric. It was the culmination of our careers on Smith Rugby and it’s something I’ll never forget.

What’s your “Big Dream” for your future? 
There’s the big, BIG dream of getting a PhD, which I’ve wanted since I was about 12 years old. Then there’s the smaller, but honestly more exciting dream, of getting published for the first time. There’s something about knowing your work is in a journal that other scientists read, or a journal that you frequently read.

What is your proudest accomplishment? 
Getting to Smith. I’m a first-generation student and college has always been the dream, so to study at an institution like Smith where I can study whatever I want, is incredible. I didn’t always know I wanted to study in the U.S., but I’m glad that’s the choice I made, being an international student has allowed me to travel so much more than I would have if I stayed in the U.K.

What do you wish older alums knew about the class of 2024? 
That we’re resilient. We didn’t get the proper introduction to Smith that other class years did, most of us didn’t even get an orientation. I know for me, it was difficult to find home at Smith, but now I’m graduating and myself and my friends have finally found our space at Smith. It’s going to be a bittersweet graduation!