“I find what I love, I find what I care about and then I write about that. I have mind and motion and need — combined. That’s what I do, which I’m sure all of you are doing. Purpose. Love. Passion. Connected.”

The 49-year-old icon was at Harvard as part of the university’s speaker series.

“You talk about community,” she continued. “To me, community is huge. Curate a community, find a community. People who understand you — who get you. Who can appreciate, who can reflect you. Who can resonate. So you’re not in a vacuum. You can bounce ideas off of someone. They can also articulate appreciation. You can articulate appreciation back. I think these are very healthy and important things in the world.”

Ms. Hill has had a productive relationship with the Ivy League institution. According to Black Enterprise, she spoke at Harvard in 2023 for the 25th anniversary of her solo masterpiece The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

She made headlines earlier this year when she shared the stage with rap star Doechii during a live performance of Hill’s 1998 hit “Doo Wop (That Thing.)”

After the special moment, Doechii thanked Hill for the opportunity, writing on X, “Thank you Miss Lauryn Hill. Thank you. My heart is so full. She is my hero. This is the greatest honor hip-hop could give me. Praise God. My entire body is vibrating with joy right now. I’ll never forget this day! EVER!”