After weeks of missing home and calling every night, Parents Weekend rolls around at the end of September, an opportunity for our loved ones to come down to the Main Line and experience a piece of our new lives. Being reunited with my family is not only comforting, but also a reminder of how far we’ve come in just a few short weeks.
From the streets I walk with my friends to the restaurants we frequent, showing my parents even a glimpse of my Villanova journey is incredibly meaningful. All the time, effort, and sacrifice that went into getting me here feels validated when they see me thriving, excelling in school, taking on leadership roles, forming meaningful friendships, and slowly growing into the person I’m meant to become.
It’s not easy being away from home for most of the year, but Villanova is where I’m growing, mentally, emotionally, and personally.
Here, I am pushed to become the best version of myself. And when I do return home, whether for a holiday or summer break, I know my family sees someone stronger and more confident than the girl who left in August. I see that pride in their eyes when they visit each September.
From football games to dinners in town, it’s the small moments we miss the most during the busy fall semester. Parents Weekend allows us to pause, reconnect, and appreciate the journey we’re on.
For me, it’s especially meaningful to share this place with my father, a Villanova School of Business graduate from the Class of 1994. So much has changed since he called this campus home, and now I get to show him Villanova through my own eyes. From climbing the Tolentine stairs to grabbing pizza at Campus Corner, there’s something incredibly special about walking the same paths that once led him to where he is today.
Family Weekend reaffirms the deep connections we have to those who’ve supported us along the way. It reminds us why we’re here, who we’re doing this for, and what we’re striving toward. At a time when mid-semester stress starts to creep in, that reminder becomes fuel for the road ahead.
This weekend means something different for everyone, whether you’re a first-generation student, a legacy Villanovan, or the first in your family to leave home for college. But we’re all sharing the same space, making memories that will become part of our personal stories.
This weekend is more than just a break from the routine or a chance to eat somewhere other than the dining hall, it’s a reminder of who we are outside of college, and how those roots have shaped the people we’re becoming here. Seeing familiar faces on a campus that once felt so unfamiliar creates a unique mix of past and present. It grounds us.
As I looked around at other students walking side by side with their parents, younger siblings, and even grandparents, I realized how universal some of these emotions are. Whether it’s a father beaming with pride, a mom giving an extra-long hug, or a student eagerly pointing out every building on campus, there’s a shared energy of appreciation and pride that fills the air.
It also made me curious, what does this weekend mean to others? We all bring different stories, backgrounds, and emotions into these moments.
Michela Marchiano, a sophomore in the Villanova School of Business, talked about what it means to her, “I would say I look forward to it. Family weekend blends the two most important parts of my life: my family and my Villanova family and reminds me to take a step back to appreciate all that i have. Whether it’s walking around with them or simply eating a meal with them, it’s a chance to have a grounding point in my quickly moving college life.”
Michela’s words are a powerful reminder that this weekend isn’t just about showing our families around campus, it’s about recognizing how far we’ve come and who has helped us get here. Parents Weekend is a rare pause in the fast pace of college life, a moment to bridge our old worlds with our new ones. It reminds us that while we’re growing into independent young adults, we’re never truly doing it alone. Surrounded by the people who raised us and supported by the community we’ve found here, we’re writing a story that’s not only ours, but one our families can be proud to be part of.
