A letter to all college women: why you need to find the group of girls who will help you be a better you
By: Caitlin Manahan
My mom is my hero, and she has always told me that the key to her success was finding herself in her early years by having good girl friends. Throughout my childhood, my mom has had her friends over and they all sit by the kitchen counter with contagious laughter and what seems like endless stories. I knew from a young age that I wanted this exact moment when I was older.
Lacking a core group of female friends and tending to be very insecure, I decided to go to an all-girls school in seventh grade that would be my home until senior year of high school. I was in that awkward stage when you’re just turning 13 and you don’t know how to act or who to be. My high school supplied me with a group of 10 girls who transformed me from an insecure sixth grader, to a confident, enthusiastic, motivated senior. I spent 6 years learning to be myself in an environment of inspiring females who helped me develop the person I wanted to be before going to college.
Villanova was my dream school and I was excited to begin my new life here because it was the place that I knew was right for me. Freshman year, I met so many people that it was overwhelming. Some I haven’t seen since being on South Campus, and others were really nice but, honestly, I truly never clicked with them. I half-struggled, because none of the girls that I met seemed to bring out the best in me like my high school friends.
Past graduates always told me that sophomore year is when everything changes and that I would find my people. They were right. I joined a sorority and I began to spend more time with other nursing students like myself. Through these two outlets as well as mutual friends, today I have the six girls that best resemble my high school friend group.
My friends and I have all been there for each other through hard breakups and social issues amongst females. We’ve taught each other to be independent and determined. I’ve cultivated the ability to have more patience in my academics with some help from my friends. I have struggled with test anxiety and insecurities when it comes to my studies, however I have never felt more empowered than I do with this group of girls.
We have shared study guides and pencils, and have supported one another through a tough grade or a challenging teacher. Each and every one of them has a different role in my life, whether it be my “study buddy”, my therapist, or just simply someone I go to for a few laughs on a rough day.
Outside of school, I have come to figure out how to navigate reality as a result of the strong bond that these young women and I have. Whatever life has thrown at us, I can honestly say that we have all been there, and we’ve been there together. I have learned to trust, listen, and be there for others in their time of need. To have a core group to reach out to whenever you are having an issue or trouble with a situation, is a key aspect of female companionship.
We support each other’s dreams and build each other up; there’s no competition. Whether its nursing or not, we all give positive reactions to each other when we share our hopeful future plans. In 2018, women building up other women is of the greatest importance in present-day society.
My relationship with my group of high school and college friends have helped me to be who I am today. I am a completely different person than I was eight years ago in sixth grade. I have learned so much from female companionship; to be confident in myself, smile and laugh a lot, and to love and support others.
My advice to all women either going to college or currently in college now, to seek out the group of girls who will make them better versions of themselves like I did. It may be difficult at first to find them, but believe it or not, you will. Time will fly, and it’ll be your turn sitting at the kitchen counter with all of the empowering women whom you spent the best years of your life with.
