Meet the valedictorians: Maya Nylund ’23

Enjoy the present moment. Though they are oft-repeated words of wisdom, as the Class of 2023’s college experience was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and our futures appeared temporarily suspended, it made the time I shared with my classmates when we were finally able to return to campus all the more precious. As I reunited with my friends, mentors, and the campus, I became much more cognizant of how special the connectedness that arises from Lafayette’s residential structure and its small community is. This transition and the unwavering love and support of those around me also helped me to understand how stress and self-induced pressure distract from the moment, and I have been making a conscious effort to be more present ever since. 

Hearing the speech given by Tanuja Majumdar Dehne ’93 during this year’s Honors Convocation. The convocation was held about three weeks before graduation, so it was already in the back of my mind. One of the first things that Dehne said in her speech was that she was ‘coming home,’ which became a recurring thread throughout her speech. As one of her final remarks, she said: ‘You’re ready, and you can always come home, right back home, to Lafayette College.’ I moved often as a teenager, attending three high schools in three different countries, and there are few things that have been as much of a constant for me or that have felt like home the way that Lafayette has. Dehne’s speech reminded me of the circularity of relationships. It allowed me to realize that though I am no longer an undergraduate at Lafayette, I can always return and become involved in the community in other capacities: a comforting thought as I prepared to leave the College. 

I used to be an Admissions ambassador at Lafayette, and at the end of tours, I would give groups my answer to the question: ‘Why Lafayette?’ I would tell them that I toured a variety of colleges in my senior year of high school and that I felt my experiences at many were impersonal and undergirded by disinterest, with many schools exuding an attitude of, ‘You are so lucky to be here.’ When I came to Lafayette, I felt immediately enveloped by warmth and hospitality, and the attitude instead felt like one of recognition and celebration—more along the lines of, ‘We are so lucky to have you here.’ I chose to attend the college that I felt had chosen me, and I cannot imagine a more rewarding college experience. I feel so blessed that Lafayette is the home I will always return to, and I hope that wherever you choose to go to college, you can similarly envision it as your forever home.