Hailey Harmon '26: The Humanities Major She Didn’t See Coming

Margo Lakin, Trinity Communications

College can easily become a straight line: pick a major, commit to a track, graduate and start a career. For many students, especially those in STEM, the pressure to stay the course can make exploring other interests feel risky (even irresponsible) and cast the humanities as an indulgence rather than a necessity. But at Trinity, students are encouraged to explore across disciplines, discovering new paths that enrich their education as much as challenge their curiosities. 

Hailey Harman
After graduation in May, Hailey Harman will start a career in healthcare investment banking. (Photo courtesy Harman)

For senior Hailey Harman, that academic freedom was transformational — with new perspectives, a second major and a personal renaissance along the way. 

Harman came to Duke with a laser focus on Chemistry. Inspired by a high school teacher who first sparked a love for the subject and by her own interest in healthcare, she saw chemistry as providing a rigorous foundation with future career flexibility. Her first two years at Duke were academically intense and tightly mapped out, shaped by prerequisites. 

“It wasn’t just chemistry, I was also taking courses in physics and math, which continued into summer sessions,” she shares. “Sophomore year was completely research-focused, also stretching into the summer, so I was basically living in STEM. Approaching my junior year, I knew I needed more balance and space to explore.” 

That desire for something beyond the lab led her to look outward, both geographically and intellectually. And what better place to expand her horizons than Florence, Italy, where a fall internship rekindled her love of history and invited her to explore the city, and her studies, in a different way.  

“For the first time since high school, I was able to take classes based on my intellectual curiosity, not because they specifically fit my course plan,” she admits. “Finding that excitement again really changed me — I felt reinvigorated by everything.” 

The painting The Birth of Venus by Botticelli
Surrounded by Florence's history, Harman felt like she was "living in an open-air museum," though stepping into a real one never lost its magic. Photo courtesy Elena Popova on Unsplash

That renewed curiosity followed her back to Duke. Harman had several Medieval and Renaissance Studies courses under her belt, which caught the attention of Michael Cornett, director of undergraduate studies. When he pointed out that many STEM-focused and pre-med students ultimately pursue a Medieval and Renaissance Studies as a minor or double major, the connection clicked, and she declared her second major that spring. 

“I could see myself being happy within the department, so declaring the major felt natural,” Harman shares. “When I’m interested in something, I fully commit. Adding my humanities major was about deepening how I approach my academics.” 

Instead of diverging from her STEM academics, the humanities have enriched them in unexpected ways: strengthening Harman’s writing for scientific manuscripts, sharpening her communication skills and helping her translate complex ideas for broader audiences. Equally important, they’ve taught her how to interrogate the world around her, making her a more intentional consumer of media and a more attentive listener. 

“The STEM world tends to be binary, with clear right and wrong answers, but the humanities challenge that," she explains. "There isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer, there’s the strength of your argument, and bringing that mindset into my day-to-day life has made me a stronger student and a more thoughtful learner.” 

Graduating in May, Harman had two clear paths laid out: a career in chemistry or a deep dive into the humanities. Instead, she’ll begin a career in healthcare investment banking. “People are usually surprised by that choice,” she laughs. 

While working in healthcare finance, Harman will still explore with the same curiosity and drive that drew her to science. “My humanities courses remind me why I was curious in the first place,” she admits. "Rather than choosing between disciplines, I can find new ways to apply my skills and passion for problem-solving, innovation and impact."

And for equally curious students, Harman encourages saying yes to as many opportunities as possible, even when they don’t fit a plan. “You’re a whole person — you’re not meant to follow just one path.”