Yara Shahidi Graduates From Harvard University: It’s Surreal To Have Finally Hit This Major Milestone

Yara Shahidi
Photo Credit: Paul Mardy Photography

Yara Shahidi Graduates From Harvard University: It’s Surreal To Have Finally Hit This Major Milestone

Actress/model Yara Shahidi is officially a Harvard graduate!

Yara Shahidi graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts on Thursday (May 16). Earlier this week, the 22-year-old “Grown-ish” star took to Instagram to count down the days until the memorable occasion.

Yara Shahidi was accepted into Harvard University in 2017, but began her journey in 2018. She took a gap year before beginning her studies. Reportedly, she “got into every college” she applied to, such as Yale University, Spelman College, and Stanford University. However, Harvard had always been in her career plans.

On Tuesday (May 24), Yara posted a photo of her smiling and laughing in her commencement gown alongside her mom, Keri. Yara added the caption,

“Celebrating ALL week! T MINUS [one] DAY AWAY FROM GRADUATION.”

On her big day, Yara shared beautiful photos in her cap and gown wearing a custom Dior two-piece suit. The photos were captured by photographer and visual artist Paul Mardy. Yara captioned the post,

“Yara (noun): a Harvard graduate
#ITSOFFICIAL #CLASSOF2022

 @paulmardyphotography”

The “Black-ish” alum told Vogue she studied within the university’s Social Studies & African American departments, concentrating on “Black political thought under a neocolonial landscape.” Yara told the magazine,

“It’s surreal to have finally hit this major milestone. I’ve known I wanted to go to college since I was four. By 17, I knew exactly what I wanted to study, so to see that come to fruition is a goal fulfilled.”

Many celebrities and creatives in the entertainment industry sent their congratulations on social media via their IG stories, including Yara’s mentor, First Lady Michelle Obama.

As previously reported, Michelle Obama graduated from Harvard University and is the author of one of Yara’s recommendation letters. Yara completed her last assignment which was a thesis paper of 136-pages and 32,000 words before accepting her diploma.

Congratulations to Yara Shahidi! What are your thoughts on this? Tell us below!

[Sources: 1, 2]