The memories that shape us
Rory Finnegan, Editor-in-Chief
Edgard Mejico Salinas, Editor-in-Chief
In the famous Pixar movie Inside Out, glowing colored orbs represent memories. If you haven’t seen the movie, let us paint a quick picture. First, imagine giant marbles swirling with colors that correspond with emotions – yellow for joy, blue for sadness, red for anger, and so on. Next, picture floor to ceiling shelves full of these orbs as far as the eye can see (because 25 or so years since we started remembering things, we have too many memories to count). Some are fading, as they get replaced by new memories, others burn bright as ever. This is one way – Pixar’s way – of imagining what goes on inside our heads.
Just as in real life, a few of these memories stand out, colored brighter than the rest: known in Inside Out as core memories, they influence our behaviors, emotions, and how we approach the world. These are the ones that have shaped us.
In reflecting on the end of the academic year at HBS, you might imagine that your arms are full of giant colored marbles – too many new memories made in what feels like too little time. That’s how it is here, and how it has always been. From weekend trips to dinner parties to skydeck roasts to only-at-HBS-experiences like a schoolwide gala, student life is ripe with opportunities for memory-making. Some of us will even leave with core memories, experiences so pivotal they have changed the directions of our lives.
In this issue, we spotlight some of the most memorable moments of the last few weeks – from the Boston Marathon and the 50th Annual HBS Show, to Section I’s inaugural “Parents’ Day” and the return of RLGC’s Fashion Show. This edition also covers reflections on broader HBS experiences, notably from ECs – including a heartfelt thank you from one student to his community in PRIDE and an account of a recently fulfilled Reciprocity Ring promise. You will also find stories from the less visible members of the HBS community, such as a profile on the amazing Spangler staff and reflections on being an introvert at HBS. Find all of this, and more, in our final edition of the 2022-2023 academic year.
To the Class of 2023 – congratulations! We hope you leave this place with more memories than you can count (mostly happy, of course, but acknowledging that a rich experience includes emotions of all colors). To the Class of 2024 – have a great summer, don’t miss the classroom too much, and remember, the best memories are yet to come. See you next year!
Rory Finnegan (MBA ’24) is originally from New Jersey. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in poetry writing in 2018. Prior to HBS, she worked in consulting and CEO communications in New York. Edgard Mejico (MBA ’24) is originally from Lima, Peru. He graduated from Universidad del Pacifico, Peru with a degree in Business Engineering in 2016. Prior to the HBS MBA, he worked for six years in Brand Management and Sales in Colgate-Palmolive Latin America.