By Violeta Panayotova

Akiccakāra  Kanta! These are words not usually written or said by people in today’s society. First off, no it is not Latin or Greek. Second off, what does it mean? Well, it means “Be Kind” in the ancient language Pali which Jacqueline McIntosh will learn at Harvard University in the next few years.

Tempe Prep alum Jacqueline McIntosh has just committed to Harvard University to earn her Masters of Theological Studies in Buddhist Studies at Harvard’s Divinity School. This is no small feat when one thinks about it as it shows dedication and perseverance in order to achieve such a task. She will continue learning her undergraduate career as a Religion/Anthropology major.

She states, “It felt like a natural next step in a field I want to continue exploring.”

Her interest was initially sparked during her first-year seminar where she read a book by a modern-day monk. Jacqueline states that “his philosophies really resonated with me and with the place I was at in my life.” Ever since then she has pursued the philosophy and the classes offered in the Religion Department.

She, of course, wanted to continue studying the area she is interested most and this is how she stumbled upon Harvard. She believed that it is one of the universities that has a strong Theravada presence. The program also fits really nicely with her Anthropology interest and degree, as well.

“Harvard felt like the natural choice,” explains Jacqueline, especially after mentioning that one of the Mount Holyoke advisors was teaching at the university.

But her interest does not end with a simple degree and a book. She has traveled abroad and visited places such as Sri Lanka and India where she was part of the Tibetan community in exile, a place where Tibetan refugees escaped to after China started invading their homeland.

All of these opportunities started because of TPA and allowing her to find the University of Mount Holyoke. Jacqueline explains that “TPA prepared me for college-level work — time management, effective writing, proper citation.” In many classes she used her knowledge from TPA or the Greek language taught at TPA to help herself and improve her studies. She praises the teachers that helped her throughout the way and taught her valuable lessons that made her who she is today.

All of these experiences bring us here today when she states that Harvard will be an incredible opportunity. She is most excited about her Honors Thesis about ancient (6th-3rd century BCE) Buddhist poetry that claims the authorship of women. She is ready to learn and explore the original language of the poems, Pali. Jacqueline, however, sees the uncertainty surrounding the current COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, she continues to look towards the future and to ensure she takes the most out of her experience.

All of her experiences have made her who she is and has shaped her into the woman that she is today. She will continue to explore the field she is passionate for and encourages everyone to do the same. She recommends we all use the resources provided to us such as Mrs. Moffitt to ensure that we find our own passion in the world.