The word “Villanova” can be broken into two parts: “nova,” or “new,” and “villa,” or “home.” Villanova certainly became a new home for me when I matriculated here after high school. There are numerous ways in which campus has become my new home, and now that I am ready to leave this home and move on to the next one, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on all the places that made Villanova more than just a school.
There are so many directions in which I could take a piece about Villanova being my “home.” The first place that pops into my mind is the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. It seems only fitting that my last article for The Villanovan will be similar to my first.
The Math Department became my home at the start of my sophomore year, and I have never looked back. I made fantastic friends through my math classes and was able to connect with other students who were each brilliant in their own ways. It was, and still is, a joy to work with these individuals.
That being said, the math professors have made my time in the department feel even more special. I learned that there is a little bit of math and stat in everything, which means that I can easily bring my outside interests into the realm of math. The professors that I have had helped me foster a sense of confidence within myself. Though I was someone who perceived themself as weak in math, I was encouraged to persevere and not give up even when I was utterly lost. If that is not what a home should be, then I do not know what should.
Next, of course, are clubs. The numerous extracurricular activities that I have taken part in have helped shape my Villanova experience beyond anything else.
Student media is awesome. No, no one in The Villanovan paid me to say that. I genuinely believe it. Most of my time when I was not actively doing homework was spent in service of some media organization: primarily VTV, but also The Villanovan and Belle Air Yearbook. Being able to express my creativity and do something very different from my classes was a very valuable experience. Clubs are so important. I made my closest friends through my clubs and was able to learn skills beyond what I ever could in a classroom. One of the most important parts of a home is the people in it, and I found that new home through my clubs.
Another aspect of making a place home, in a more abstract sense, is having a supportive group of people who will accept and help you no matter what. Not only did I find this in my major, but I also found it in my clubs. Villanova quickly became my new home because of who I shared this home with.
So, what happens next? How can I leave my new home behind? Thankfully, this new home is not so new anymore. Villanova became my new home and gave me the supportive environment I needed to grow, fully preparing me to step away. If I may share one last unsolicited piece of wisdom, I will share something that was shared on my senior retreat: “it isn’t that things are always changing, but that change is all there is.”
Homes give us spaces to grow and change until we are ready to make new homes. In becoming my new home, Villanova equipped me with everything I need to make more new places my home throughout the rest of my life. So, thank you, Villanova.
