Knaut said that though he was horrified by the bombings and their aftermath, he was happy to witness the reaction of the people of Boston and the nation more broadly.

“I felt upright solidarity, which was impressive. The way America dealt with it strengthened community at a national level,” he said.

Using similar words, Barbosa recounted being positively surprised by the surge of community spirit in the aftermath of the bombings.

“I was very touched by the American population, and by how they reacted.”

DEFINED BY OTHER THINGS

Despite the disruptions throughout the year, visiting students said that ultimately their experience at Harvard was defined more by the richness of everyday life than by a handful of abnormal days.

Themessl-Huber said he was “absolutely not disappointed” by his experience, citing “a different teaching style, closer ties to your professors, and a more intimate community” as factors that contributed to his happiness at Harvard.

“I loved my semester here. This has not changed because of things that nobody can prevent,” he said.

For his part, Knaut said that academic exploration and the opportunity to try his hands at graduate-level classes made his Harvard experience rewarding.

Chu, who said his time in Cambridge was shaped by Harvard’s interactive model of education and “vibrant” social life, struck a reflective tone in rendering judgment on the year.

“The important thing,” he concluded, “is what you do in spite of tragic or dismal events.”

—Staff writer Antonio Coppola can be reached at acoppola@college.harvard.edu. Follow him on Twitter @AntonioCoppolaC.