When I started my academic journey, I only had one destination in mind: Cabrini University. It was already woven into my life, thanks to my dad. He was a hard-working employee, straight-A student (now alumnus), and Cavalier softball coach. As a child, he would take me to work with him, and that is where I got to witness Cabrini’s prime firsthand. It was so quaint and charming, and I knew that by the time high school was over, I was going to thrive as a Cavalier.
Eventually, it was time for me to start applying to schools and going through the decision process. My decision process was sort of atypical. Thanks to my family’s influence, I always knew it was going to be Cabrini. It was the only school I applied for because I was certain of my decision. I was drawn to its close-knit community and its academic programs. Once I got there, I found my niche at Cabrini. Being a part of the communications department, residence life and the softball team was truly an enriching experience. I had so many different outlets on the campus where I was truly thriving and discovering myself.
Little did I know I would have to go through the college decision process all over again, and it was much harder this time around. I was bitter that my school was closing as I wanted to have my full college experience at Cabrini. I was dreading the process of picking a new school because of my emotional connection to Cabrini. I was losing a lot of my friends, clubs and teams at the end of the academic year. I was more preoccupied on enjoying my last year at Cabrini and making memories, rather than picking a new school.
I applied to four schools, and I was excited to have many choices to make. However, this also made the decision process more overwhelming. After a deep dive, the choice became clear. Villanova and Cabrini had very similar core values. Both institutions are grounded in Catholic values, and they are dedicated to social justice. However, what sets Villanova apart is its academic excellence, a strong sense of community and opportunities for personal and professional development. Also, the campus is gorgeous. The more I learned about Villanova, the more I was drawn to it. Villanova had the brightest light at the end of the tunnel, and I knew I had made the right decision.
Once I finally arrived at Villanova, I knew I had a lot of adjusting to do. Overall, I was not prepared. I was met with hordes of people walking on campus, and it was very different from the environment of a school shutting down. I was overwhelmed by the size of the student body, as well as the sheer size of the campus. Adapting to a much larger campus was a struggle. Regardless, anytime I asked someone for help with directions on campus, my peers would assist me with no hesitation, with no questions asked and no judgment.
The simple acts of kindness spoke volumes about the culture at Villanova. When my past at Cabrini was revealed to those around me, rather than being met with indifference or pity, my fellow Villanovans were sympathetic and curious about my Cabrini experience. They wanted to welcome me as one of their own. That alone is what makes Villanova different. Everyone is polite and considerate, not just in a surface-level way, but in a way that makes people feel valued. The sense of community here isn’t just about being polite, it’s about making others feel truly valued. It’s the small gestures, like holding doors open, checking in on one another, and having meaningful conversations that reveal a deep-rooted culture of care.
For many of the Cavaliers who transferred this year, our path was not linear. There were a lot of challenges along the way, but through it all, we adapted and grew from the adversity that stood in our way. Being welcomed with open arms was what we needed most during this time, and at Villanova, we were met with it. The Cabrini community is lucky to be embraced by Villanova.
