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ESSAY #1
I entered Villanova University in the fall of 2017 as a nervous, wide-eyed Freshmen equipped with a stockpile of stories from family and friend’s past experiences. Overwhelmed by mixed feelings of excitement and anxiousness, I knew I needed to discover for myself what Villanova meant to me. The most salient discovery I made- Villanova is more than a memory. There are physical reminders, such as my family's stone bricks that lay in front of the Monastery that offer one glimpse into the many generations of dedication. Or, there are the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship trophies that sit on display in the Davis Center, that represent how any Villanovan victory is celebrated by all who proudly call themselves a Wildcat. Unpredictably, the feeling of standing among the thousand other members of the Class of 2021 during Orientation and the sensation of being in the student section in San Antonio’s Alamodome in 2018 are equal. Each new experience and every shining moment are shared by all who sing the fight song or throw up their V’s- they transcend memories beyond the ephemeral and into the living legacy that is shaped by Villanova tradition. That is what Villanova means to me.
ESSAY #2
Coming into college as a first-year student is a very intimidating experience. You do not know anyone and are in an unfamiliar place that is far from home. Villanova made this experience a lot easier. Ever since the first day I stepped on campus in late August, I knew I would have no problem calling this place my second home. My peers, the faculty, and the campus were all so accommodating to my needs and made me feel extremely welcomed. As my first semester progressed, things started getting more academically difficult. Luckily, Villanova has so many resources that helped me succeed. Second semester, I joined a sorority and felt even more included amongst my peers.
Villanova has completely changed my life, even though I have only been here for less than a year. The people that I have met and the experiences I have had has caused me to gain a strong love for campus and all the people I have met on it. I am so glad that I chose Villanova as my next step in my young adult life and would undoubtedly recommend attending this school to any accepted high school student.
ESSAY #3
I didn’t submit the required essay to get in here. Villanova was not my dream school. I had emailed the office of admissions in order to extend the submission date– when, out of nowhere, I received the email informing me of my acceptance. It’s a moment that will forever make me feel blessed, because it marked the beginning of the most impactful four years of my life.
When I came to Villanova, I didn’t know a single person. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to meet two random roommates who I still consider friends, but my experience as a whole hasn’t been as glamorous as my search for freshmen year roommates was. In fact, it’s been a roller coaster. There’s been ups– the 2018 National Championship, outstanding professors, delicious Campco, and more- but there’s also been downs- homesickness, the social pressures of a fraternity, not-so-great professors, etc. What’s stayed true throughout, however, is the welcoming, warm atmosphere that made Villanova feel like a second home, despite my sense of not belonging. It’s the kind nature and selfless attitude that has impacted me the most, and I will carry it with me and spread it for as long as I live.
ESSAY #4
Growing up in a town with poverty and high crime rates, it was hard to find a community near my home. Villanova’s campus was the first time I felt a sense of community. In this community, I found support and guidance from friends and faculty. Through this help, I was able to navigate the difficulty of post graduation confusion, interviews, and internships. I was also able to navigate the confusing world of being a first generation student. Lastly, I was given the strength to push forward when I thought I couldn’t because I had people supporting me and helping me. In addition to the support I received, I also felt a sense of identity. I knew once I started unpacking my suitcases in the blazing August heat, I was home. This was a place that I not only felt safe and comfortable, but also felt like I had a purpose, power, and support. With this courage, I was able to successfully pursue an academic career with a 3.8 GPA while working two jobs during the year, leading the International Business Society, and finding a full time job post graduation. Without this community, I do not think I would be strong enough to pursue the sacrifice I decided to pursue at 18. I am happy to have chosen Villanova. However, I am even happier that Villanova has chosen me and welcomed me with open arms.
ESSAY #5
I have a very unique Villanova journey. Villanova has always been my dream school but unfortunately, I was not admitted out of high school. I transferred to Villanova after my freshman year and internally struggled because I believed I was not “smart” enough to succeed. My first semester, I earned a 4.0 GPA and am graduating in May with high honors. The Villanova basketball program is the reason I developed interest in Villanova. I watched countless Nova basketball games growing up because my dad’s friend played here and followed the team. I’ve attended every Villanova basketball game possible since enrolling. I saw 30 Villanova basketball wins in a row before witnessing my first loss against Creighton on 2/1. It’s been a running joke for the past 3 years that I’m Nova’s “good luck charm”. On campus I am involved with CLAS Ambassadors, the Outdoors Club, and Chi Omega. I led a service justice experience to Marion, South Carolina. I also volunteer with the Special Olympics basketball athletes where I teach them how to play and improve their skills. Additionally, I am featured in the Villanova school commercial! I truly believe no one is a bigger Villanova fan than me.
ESSAY #6
The best birthday gift I ever received was my acceptance letter from Villanova in early December of 2015. I vividly remember tears streaming down my face as I hugged my parents in celebration of what was the biggest accomplishment of my life at the time. Villanova was my dream school, but it was also a significant reach school for me. During the application process, I was told by an admissions counselor to “not be discouraged by a deferred decision,” so looking back on the night I got into Villanova, it’s no wonder that I was overcome by emotion. Four years (and two national championships) later, I have plenty to be thankful for from my time at Villanova. I found a strong sense of community in Villanova’s Campus Ministry, where I participated in and led numerous service trips and retreats. Above all, my Villanova career has taught me that the most important things in life are close relationships with friends and family. While classes, clubs, and even the basketball season come and go, the people with whom we share those moments in life, like getting accepted into your dream school, stay with us and are what make them so special.
ESSAY #7
I was first introduced to Villanova as a basketball rival of my hometown team, Syracuse. The Nova-Syracuse rivalry was one of the biggest rivalries in the Big East at the time and not very many people in Syracuse liked Villanova. However, my older brother said at a very young age that Villanova was his dream school, which surprised everyone in my family. When my brother applied to colleges, he ended up applying to Nova early decision and was very excited to come to Villanova when he was accepted. When I applied to colleges, I decided that I would at least apply to Nova (because my brother would already be there), but I didn’t think Nova was my number one school. Eventually my choices came down to Nova and WPI, and my decision to come to Nova was in part influenced by the fact that Villanova has such a successful basketball program. Now my younger brother has applied early decision to Nova, gotten accepted and will be starting classes in the fall. My whole family has become avid Villanova basketball fans who will do anything in their power to watch Nova whether it be in person or on television.
ESSAY #8
Villanova basketball has been a huge part of my Villanova experience, from before I even committed to Nova, to now. I didn’t think I would be able to attend Villanova (even though it was my top choice) due to financial reasons. However, just days before Villanova won the national championship in 2016, my parents told me I would be able to attend after receiving my financial aid package from the school. When Villanova won the championship, it felt like a sign. My freshman year at Villanova, I had a hard time making friends, and briefly considered transferring. That idea vanished when basketball season came around. Going to games in the pavilion reminded me of why I wanted to come to this school in the first place: the community. I felt like I was a part of something great when surrounded by other students in those stands. I thought I would never be more grateful that I stayed at Villanova than I was on the night of the championship in 2018, but I was wrong. I am more grateful now, in my senior year, having just attended senior night and my last game in the new pavilion with my best friends.
ESSAY #9
I matriculated in August, 2018. Like every freshman, I stumbled through the awkward luau, I found some friends, I joined too many clubs. In September, my life careened. I began having terrible headaches. Over two weeks they worsened daily. I speculated about the cause of the debilitating pain: internalizing stress, dorm mold? Eventually, an MRI on September 30 revealed the source: a golf-ball sized brain tumor. Within days I underwent an awake craniotomy. In weeks, I began and finished chemotherapy and radiation. I started regular immunotherapy infusions and electroporation vaccines.
In January of 2019, a month after chemo and radiation, I began at Villanova again. I could never have predicted my cancer, but moreso, I could never have imagined Villanova’s incredible, loving, joyous, overwhelming response.
Classmates I had just met visited my hospital bedside for hours. Numerous Villanova Instagram accounts and Jay Wright posted to support me and my GoFundMe. Hundreds of students I had never met created beautiful, personal cards and sent me a treasured Villanova blanket. Villanova embraced and smoothed my return with open arms, accomodation, and personal faculty attention. LEVEL helps me share my story to help others. My unique story is quintessential Villanova: family.
ESSAY #10
My unique Villanova story started six years before I unpacked my bags at Stanford. It was the year I began playing travel basketball, the year the Big East became the New Big East, and the year Phil Booth was the top Villanova recruit. I became interested after my coach made up plays named for NCAA teams, and “NOVA!” was where everyone swung to the right, as I drove left to the basket. Coincidence? I think not.
My experience: I’ve seen Collin go next level play in the second half, Jermaine’s three vs. Kansas for the W, Jeremiah’s numerous put backs, and Dada dunk with authority. I witnessed Arcidiacono’s jersey retired, waited out the “rain delay” at Butler, and saw my mom on ESPN holding a “Go Nova” sign at the Myrtle Beach tournament. It’s in the genes.
My lottery number got me into every home game but one, Senior night at the Finn. Undeterred, I purchased a ticket on-line at a price roughly equal to two day’s pay lifeguarding this summer. Well worth it.
To be in the stands yelling “NOVA!” as Saddiq drives left to the basket during March Madness would be a dream come true. V’s up!
ESSAY #11
My life has always been about family - relatives and teammates. As a varsity football and lacrosse player, I was always part of a team. We were always there for each other. Attending Villanova and leaving this family was tough. As the only freshman from Ann Arbor, I worried finding the support of such a family again was impossible. When I arrived, I knew no one my age; almost everyone already seemed connected through the east coast; my freshman dorm was on main; and to top it off, I was cut from the club lacrosse team when I sprained my ankle. This was the one group I had hoped would become my family. Everything seemed hopeless until I realized that I had already developed a family. I was living in the best dorm, Alumni. Our small, diverse dorm, isolated on main, had bonded into our own family. We had gotten to know each other, had shared our diverse personal experiences, and looked out for each other. The dorm I thought I would hate has become my favorite place. This has taught me you may not find a family in the places you expect and diversity makes it even better.
ESSAY #12
My freshman year went as most go for Villanovans, I got involved on campus, joined a sorority, Club Basketball and made friends, while enjoying the Old Pavilion for its final season. After freshman year, I went home for summer, and found out I had Lymphoma and had to take off from school.
How could I miss a semester? How could I not be with my friends? How could I miss the basketball games? My Nova friends were constantly supporting me. Little things everyday helped me get through it. Then, Jay Wright called me. Right then and there I knew Villanova was my new home. Nothing tops getting a care package from the Villanova Men’s Basketball Team. When I came back, it was perfect timing to see Villanova wins its 3rd national championship!
The Villanova community helped me in more ways that I could have ever imagined, teaching me how important it is to make memories with those you love and spend all the time you can with your friends. I would love to see them start their journey to another final four as I finish up my 4 years with Nova Nation.
ESSAY #13
On November 11, 2015, I was diagnosed with a blood cancer. As I got home that day, I found a letter from my dream school, Villanova University, in my mailbox. I opened it, saw Congratulations”, and immediately knew 2 things: 1. Everything was going to be okay, maybe not that day or the next, but eventually, and 2. Villanova was meant to be a part of my story.
Through treatment, Villanova was home. I found myself immersed in the culture from afar. I watched basketball games on television, did online courses, and found comfort in the V. My last chemotherapy treatment was on April 4, 2016, just hours before Jenkins hit his most famous shot. The best day of my life.
My cancer returned during spring break in 2019, and I was once again pulled from campus. This round didn’t have any magic dates with acceptances or championships, but, that was okay, because throughout the entire journey, Villanova was there for me. I found out this past week I had no evidence of disease in my body anymore. I am back in remission and I get to return to Villanova and finish my story here as I’ve always dreamed.
ESSAY #14
Give willingly, love selflessly, be open and happiness will find its way towards you. I found happiness following this mantra through serving others at Villanova and local communities. But also, I realized that by doing so, happiness would be redirected abundantly back my way. To serve and love others guided how I spent my free time at school. I've been a retreat leader teaching Villanova students how to love oneself, God, and others, an orientation counselor helping new students acclimate to campus, a facilitator in the service learning community spearheading service projects in low-income areas throughout Philadelphia and teaching undergraduates about topics of service justice, and committee member on NOVAdance fundraising over $500,000 for kids fighting pediatric cancer. Giving back to Villanova I've received so many amazing things in return. I travelled on a study abroad program to China and saw the Great Wall, interned for a local nonprofit in Shanghai, met my best friends and travelled the world with them, networked with amazing alumni and received my dream job after college, created an instagram page called Funcertainty where I take other students on spontaneous adventures and learned how to love myself and share love with others even more.
ESSAY #15
I got called a fool in my high school senior year calculus class for the statement I had just made. It was 2016, and after being upset again and again in the tournament I had declared, “This is Jay Wright’s year.” I still hadn’t decided whether I would go to Villanova but I was leaning towards it. Nobody else believed in Villanova until they proved everyone wrong. When Kris Jenkins hit that magical shot, I knew I had a home in Villanova, a home where the impossible was possible.
Just as I had believed in Villanova, I came to learn that the school believes in me just as much if not more. I am not the typical Villanova student, I am from rural Texas originally, study international affairs and speak Arabic, and have as many interests as there are passes in a Nova possession. Yet, I fit in perfectly here. I’ve had professor after professor believe in me and propel me to opportunities. Getting to see Villanova play would be a poetic finish to my senior of college. Just as seeing Villanova’s excellence on the court brought me here, it would be fitting for it to send me out.
ESSAY #16
My Villanova story has been atypical. In April of my sophomore year I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Although my battle with cancer was one of the worst periods of my life, the Villanova community did everything in its power to help me through, and then some. I not only had to worry about my recovery, but also the remainder of my semester. My academic stress was eased by the support of my professors. Throughout this time, my professors were incredibly accommodating with me, ensuring that I was able to finish the year. What surprised me was many of them took the effort to reach out personally to check in, exemplifying Villanova as a whole. My friends respected my privacy while still showing support, and throughout the remainder of my battle with cancer, the Villanova community continued to be a critical support system for me. I could not imagine how much harder it would have been on my family and me without the full support of my community. I learned first-hand how Villanova takes care of their own and I am forever grateful. I am happy to report that I am now going into my senior year cancer-free. Go Cats!
ESSAY #17
Villanova changed my life. After 17 years of being around mean, abusive, and dishonest people I nearly lost my faith in humanity. I felt I could never trust the words "friend" and "family" again after I saw how my mother and I were treated during and after her battle with brain cancer. Then I went to Villanova and for the first time, I was in a community of love and kindness. I loved people, they loved me, and I finally found a friend group after a life of social isolation and bullying. I thought I couldn't make friends because I have Autism but from being at Villanova I learned that people are good and they will accept you for who you are. I thought my world was ending when my mother died during my first semester. But then I found incredible friends at Villanova and got closer to my family which helped me overcome and find happiness in this difficult time. Before Villanova I was scared of everything and everyone, I thought people were sinful and friendship was a lie. At Villanova, I found friendship, love, and acceptance. Now I see good in people and the world.
ESSAY #18
If I had to pick one word to describe my story as a Villanovan, it would be “opportunity.” It all started when I decided to choose a college at a place where I would enter not knowing anybody. Immediately, I had the chance to take advantage of everything the Villanova School of Business had to offer. VSB led me to choose accounting as my major, a daunting decision that would require much sacrifice. The road of accounting led me to interning with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the winter of 2020, taking place during the infamous “busy season” of accounting. Now, as I am on the back-end of my Junior year, I am grateful for the many opportunities this school has given me, including all of the connections I have made, the invaluable lessons and information I have learned from classes and professors, and my full time job offer from PwC. Villanova has not only taught me dedication and sacrifice, but to take chances in life. All the opportunities that Villanova has given to me appeared scary at first, but I have learned that if you want to achieve your goals, taking that the road less traveled is how to get there.
ESSAY #19
Villanova was changing my life long before I was a freshman. When I was 12, I was unwillingly signed up for a baton twirling camp which was hosted by the Villanova Twirlers, taking place on Villanova’s campus. Seeing it as an overly-complex and old-fashioned hobby, I was adamantly against it.
What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with twirling completely. Returning home after camp, I joined a twirling team and even competed nationally. Twirling was the perfect combination of an athletic sport and a creative performance art, and going into college, I knew I wanted a school with opportunities for me to twirl. Little did I know my journey would come full circle when I was accepted at Villanova University, and I continued my twirling career as a Villanova Twirler.
Thanks to Villanova, I was introduced to a sport that made me hard-working, resilient, and confident. Twirling is one of my greatest passions, and I’m so blessed to be on a team I can proudly call my family. My favorite memory at Villanova is performing at a basketball game during our 2018 National Championship-winning season. Nothing beats the thrill of twirling for all the Villanova fans! Go Cats!
ESSAY #20
The stress of registering for the perfect classes each semester, difficulty of finding a table in the Exchange during finals week, or the anxious feelings of waiting to discover the results of the basketball ticket lotteries are all familiar feelings that I will soon be losing upon graduation next year. My only regret is that I won’t be able to experience these feelings much longer. When I began freshman year here at Villanova, I had the task of absorbing new customs and seeking out new learning opportunities due to my physical relocation from Springfield, Illinois. However, this task only motivated me to become the best version of myself and ultimately catapulted my personal growth. I have learned here that I am not afraid of failure and that fear of failure can only halt my own success. As a second semester Junior, I am proud to say that my choice to attend Villanova has given me friends that will be standing by me for years to come. I am a better man, student, and friend because of my time at this university and I will be proud to come back as an alumnus, ready to meet the next generation of Wildcats.
ESSAY #21
My first time walking the cherry tree path up to the Villanova Church and past our beloved Oreo, the first word I associated with Villanova was “Spirit”. Every student rocked his or her favorite gear and I wanted to develop and demonstrate this same enthusiasm. So, I arrive at each Men’s and Women’s basketball game 1 to 1.5 hours early to experience every part of the battles. Plus, I made a special banner for my final Women’s game attendance to congratulate Coach Perretta on his amazing career, so special of a banner, that he asked to have it! The second major quality I developed at Villanova was being Eager to pursue new experiences and be a spokesperson for them. I study Quantitative Finance: a young, ambitious concentration with 25 students in my class. I love it and avidly sell to other bright business students to pursue it as well. Additionally, I am the first Villanova student to study abroad in Ecuador. To bring a differentiated cultural perspective back to campus, excite students with my stories of Cuy dishes and unmatched natural preservation (features indicative of Ecuador), and entice students to study in Ecuador for themselves, makes me very proud.
ESSAY #22
Ever since watching Villanova’s Final Four run in 2009 when I was in third grade, I have felt like a part of the Villanova community. Villanova became my dream school, and I made sure to represent everywhere. The day I was admitted in March 2018 was the happiest day of my life, as my lifelong dream came true. I have stood out in a particular way since my first day on campus. My friends know me as the guy who wears nothing but Villanova gear, because it’s true. I’ll almost never be seen on campus wearing anything else. Also, my knowledge of Villanova Basketball is quite often unmatched. I spend almost all my free time reading the latest VU Hoops write-up or watching the latest Nova Nation All-Access video. I also frequently speak on the WXVU radio station about Villanova Basketball. I never miss a game, and I can’t get enough! From my time on campus, I have learned to be accepting of everyone because everyone has their own unique story. I have met some really interesting people, many of whom have become my closest friends here. I am so grateful that Villanova has taught me to be open!
ESSAY #23
My Villanova experience has been an interesting one to say the least. I came to this school initially because I was a part of the Varsity softball team on campus. Having no idea what I wanted my future career to be, I began exploring the media production specialization through the communication department. I met Professor Hezekiah Lewis, and he inspired me to take the Social Justice Documentary Class. In order to fully participate and pour my heart into this project, I had to quit the softball team at the end of my junior year. Although it was one of the most difficult decisions of my life, I am so proud and thankful that I chose to do so. The documentary that we have been working on for the entirety of this year has changed my life for the better and helped me to understand what I wanted my future career path to be. Our class is currently raising $90,000 to build two wells in the villages of Malolo and Jamida, the villages we visited in Tanzania, as a thank you for allowing us to document their lives and how the water crisis has affected them.
ESSAY #24
As is the case for many Villanovans, it was on Candidate’s Day that I knew I’d found my home at Villanova. I remember the car ride early that April morning, my stomach churning with a mix of excitement and skepticism. Many had told me I would love it here, that I would succeed here, that I was as much a perfect fit for Villanova as Villanova was for me—but I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to believe them yet. This would be the first time I had ever been; a contrast to my multiple visits to another possibility over previous months in hopes to manifest a different college experience. But as we approached the intersection of Lancaster and Ithan, greeted by hundreds of Blue Key members holding signs and cheering, I realized that 800 Lancaster Avenue was my new home. It was the first time I felt like I belonged, as though Villanova wanted me here. I’ve made friends I’ll keep forever, connections that will help me in the future, and am doing what I love. As my freshman year approaches its (slightly premature) end, I look around and know that there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
ESSAY #25
My Nova story is different because of my involvement in Army ROTC. When I first arrived at Villanova, I was very nervous and scared, and even doubted if I’d be able to make it in the Army. However, what I’ve found in the Army is something that I could’ve never imagined. I have found my second family and closest friends. Each morning, before the sun has even risen, I look forward to seeing each one of my comrades because they make me feel at home and welcome. They continuously motivate me, support me, and encourage me. I would’ve never been able to push myself beyond my own limits and get to where I am today without them. Yes, of course some days are tough, but we all “embrace the suck” together so it doesn’t seem so bad after all. Within my first year of being here, I have met some really amazing people who inspire me and always remind me to believe in myself and have confidence in my abilities. I truly owe my growth and success to my Army family for inspiring me to be a better version of myself and making my first year at Villanova so memorable.
ESSAY #26
“Where are you from?” It’s a simple answer, really, but with five moves, six locations, seven schools, eight houses, and one dad in the Navy, it’s a question I cannot answer. My time at Villanova is the longest I have been promised to live in one place, and I am determined to make it my new “home.” While I once worried about the unknown, I am at peace knowing that with this community, I will have the time and encouragement to become what I am not yet. Although my story has only begun, I have explored faith and music with the Pastoral Musicians, developed a passion for welcoming others with Blue Key, and learned the foundations of Civil Engineering and design. My friends have filled the missing pieces of my heart and become my family. They have taught me to cherish the present, take risks, cheer loudly, smile often, be adventurous, dance unapologetically, ask questions, embrace challenge, and so much more. The Villanova campus looks nothing like the military base I live on, but I can’t wait for it to become my new “normal” so that in the future when people ask where I’m from, I can tell them, “Villanova.”
ESSAY #27
As a freshman I performed a poem at the Villanova Church about marriage. Freshman year I was not thinking about getting married but my parents were married in the church. Neither of them were alumni but they lived in Bryn Mawr and therefore could marry at the church. The poem I performed was about entering the next era of one’s life, and after deciding to attend Villanova I realized that my parents had stepped into the next era of their lives in the same place I would step into mine. Villanova was not a place I expected to attend, but it was a place that held such a significant history for my family. I learned to reach beyond what was expected but not forget the history that had led me to my place in life. I learned to become my own person without forgetting where I began. Creating my own experiences, in NOVAdance, The Honors Program and Student Government is what I will cherish most about Villanova. The poem was a turning point; it allowed me to celebrate the tradition that I wanted to continue while establishing an experience of my own and for that I will be forever grateful.
ESSAY #28
Once A Wildcat, Always A Wildcat:)
I am a senior from South Africa who had the fortunate opportunity to end my swimming career at Big East which many other fellow student-athletes did not have the opportunity to do. The time had come to fully experience what a normal college life was like. Little did I know that the next couple of weeks would come down to moving out and having to leave campus for the very last semester of your college career. The last few days has been an indescribable journey and my heart mourns with all fellow seniors. Times at Kelly’s Taproom celebrating all the love, joy and friendships Nova has brought us! Gathering for sunsets at the Villanova church and just fully appreciating everyone and what this wonderful university has given us! Many shedding tears and heartache over the thought of having to leave friends who have become family before the semester ends. But at the same time, reminding me to be grateful to have something that makes goodbyes so hard. Hopeful that we will return to school after Easter Break, and celebrate Senior Week and Graduation! We are strong and will overcome this!
ESSAY #29
From day one as Villanovans we are taught to humble ourselves in our Augustinian community and help those around us to grow. We are told that the best way to get through the hard times is to “lean into” the discomfort we feel, and to rely on those around us. Coming in as a freshman in 2017, I remember rolling my eyes at these statements thinking, “there’s no way everyone here buys into this.” Now, as a junior, I can confidently say I stand corrected. My Villanova experience has been filled with nothing but love, and I know that the friendships I have made here are ones that will last a lifetime. The Villanova community fosters not just creativity and knowledge, but loyalty and compassion. The friends I have made here have become my family. The people I have gone to the library with at 6am during finals week, are the same people I eat Campco with at midnight on a Friday. Though next Fall will be the beginning of the end of my time at Villanova, I know that the people I have met here will forever be the people I “lean into” during those hard times, which is what has made this time absolutely priceless.
ESSAY #30
People always ask why I went to Villanova, coming all the way from Texas. Moving 1500 miles away for a college degree isn’t for everyone. What I’ve enjoyed for four years is what I discovered in minutes on campus: Texans and Villanovans are quite alike. We go crazy for our team; We care for our community and put family first; We are so proud to be Wildcats that we won’t shut up about it; We aren’t fazed by adversity, so it’s best not to mess with us. But there is one striking difference: I may not have asked to be a Texan, but I chose to be a Villanovan and thank God I did. I chose to volunteer for SpO, to live on campus all four years, to cheer at the old Pavilion, Wells Fargo, and the Finn until my throat hurt, to find hidden gems on campus and always stay away from 4th floor Tolentine. But most importantly, I chose to make new friends, a new family, and a new home. I will always be from Texas, but my heart will always have its place at Villanova. Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat. Thank you, Nova. I love you.
ESSAY #31
I was tucked away in my little cubicle for so long, away from my bed and a potential nap, that I was ready to accept failure for whatever assignment or test I had the next day. Freshman year had a lot of ups; I met some people that I know I will actively cherish for the rest of my life, and I fell in love with a community of warm, fun, and passionate people.
Freshman year also had its downs; right alongside what I consider to be my beautiful transformation into a full-fledged adult were my first confrontations with anxiety and depression. What people that haven’t had issues with their mental health do not understand is that when you are in a bad month or four, there is no let up. That horrible little voice never relents.
As I stared blankly at Homework X, a laughing duo turned the corner and walked towards me. I looked up per usual, looked back down, blankly, and looked back up again. Even in my state, I was in awe of Jalen Brunson and Dante, and stared; they noticed. Five minutes later, Jalen sat across from me and asked “Are you ok?”.
ESSAY #32
Villanova has given me a voice.
I’ve always had a passion for storytelling. Coming here, I knew I wanted to join The Villanovan.
During my freshman year, I gained any experience I could by writing what I would call ‘the little stories.’ I covered club activities and rewrote press releases. I found my voice sophomore year, deciding that my position as a Staff Writer held more power than I originally thought. I began to introduce stories to my editors, and they let me have total reign on my pieces and interviews.
My passion for sharing news on campus with my peers led me to apply for a position as News Editor. I spent a year with my fellow Co News Editor (soon-to-be best friend and role model) planning stories, writing articles, and working with our staff to produce an in-depth section each week.
The Villanovan has allowed me to find my vocation and share my passion with others. In no other way would I be as fulfilled as I am now, as Co-Editor-in-Chief, being able to help my peers, teachers,, and University alumni by keeping our community connected, especially while we navigate this frightening global pandemic together.
ESSAY #33
My Villanova story makes me different because of my passion for the game of basketball. At my high school, we did not get to enjoy many winning seasons or an energetic student section. When I stepped into the Finneran Pavilion for the first time, seeing so many passionate classmates and fans as well as an incredibly talented basketball program was definitely a culture shock. I felt right at home in the front row of the student section cheering on the Wildcats at many of the games at the Finn as well as at the Wells Fargo Center. With my short time on campus, I have learned that there are several other people that share a love of the game of basketball. I have made a lot of my new friends from attending games in the student section or just playing pick-up basketball at Jake Nevin Field House or the Stanford court. It has truly fulfilled the image of my dream school, and I cannot wait to get back to campus for school and for the basketball season to begin once again.
ESSAY #34
Walking past the Oreo during my high school tour, I could envision myself perfectly on Villanova’s campus. But I could never have imagined the profound impact Villanova University would end up making on me as an individual. As a young freshman VSB student, I participated in my first case study competition, which taught me how to apply the business skills I was learning in the classroom. As a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics scholar in the honors program, I studied abroad at the University of Cambridge in England my sophomore year where I traveled to 10 countries, explored new cultures, and ate amazing food. During my junior year, I attended more basketball games than I can count. I buckled down on machine learning research with a professor and learned how to code in Python. My proudest accomplishment my senior year was leading a Service and Justice break trip to West Virginia. I learned about Catholic Social Teaching and set an example for my fellow students. I believe the Villanova Augustinian principles have molded my experience over the past 4 years, as I strived to embody truth, unity, and love in everything I did and continue to do.
ESSAY #35
As far as Villanova Stories go I think mine is cooler than it is crazy. Since coming to school just under two years ago, I’ve learned just how much of an alumni oriented school Villanova really is, whether it be my friends or family friends through my parents, it seems like everyone who goes to Villanova knows an abundance of others who went to Villanova at some point and had a great experience.
I can’t really say that this is different for me, my grandfather went to Villanova along with my aunt and my uncle. Although, this is where it gets interesting, while my aunt and uncle both went to Villanova they are not my aunt and uncle by marriage, and yes, while they dated starting at Villanova and for years afterward, they ended up breaking up, although, in that whole, weird process, they introduced my parents to each other at a New York Islanders game.
So, while I am not a direct legacy of Villanova through my parents, I really think of myself as a direct result of Villanova University because, without that relationship between my Father’s brother and Mother’s sister, my Villanova story would not be a story.
ESSAY #36
We’ve all been there. Sweaty and sprinting across campus in a desperate attempt to make it to class in Bartley within the 10-minute break. And as you wheezily climb those concrete stairs, you look up. Without fail, there’s some kind soul waiting with a patient grin, holding the door open for you. To me, this simple gesture captures my Villanova experience.
Villanova has opened so many doors for me that I’ve nearly lost count. It's opened the door to finding my passion, and thus employment. It's opened the door to service, allowing me to discover my love of tutoring and helping others. It's opened the door to St. Thomas, welcoming me into a deeper relationship with Christ. It's opened the door to Katherine Dormitory, where a random roommate became my best friend. It's opened the door to the Pavilion, where memories have been made and championships have been won.
But most importantly, it's taught me to open the door for others. And though my time opening doors on campus may be limited, I have the rest of my life to open doors, literally and figuratively, for other Villanovans. Because once you’re a Wildcat, you’re always a Wildcat.
ESSAY #37
Villanova was not my first choice; in fact, it wasn’t even close, so when I arrived, I was less than enthusiastic. I felt like I didn’t belong. I was the only one from my high school, my parents weren’t alumni, and I didn’t have a cousin that was an upperclassman. My Villanova story didn’t start off great; it actually didn’t even start. However, this all changed for one reason: being an LPH at Villanova’s Fall Festival. This was where my story began, where I finally understood what it meant to be a part of the Villanova community, where I met my best friends, and where I finally embraced being a Wildcat. One weekend changed my entire four years of college. It led me to my two biggest passions, LEVEL, and NovaDance. In just a few short weeks, I was able to raise over $5,000 dollars “For The Kids” and although the event was postponed, the message was not. And LEVEL showed me that it was okay to be different, where I stopped hiding that I have Crohn’s disease, and started embracing it. My Villanova story is a lot of things, but the one thing it’s not, is over.
ESSAY #38
As all true Wildcats do, I love our basketball team. Basketball has always been my favorite sport and I was fortunate to be able to play throughout high school. Coming to Villanova, I thought my competitive days were over. Never did I dream I, a man, would become a Villanova Women’s Basketball player. On the practice squad.
It began freshman year after discovering I, like many others, had not made the Men’s Club Basketball team. However, one of the seniors on the club team told those who didn’t make it that there was an opportunity to try out to be a Women’s practice player, which he actively participated in. I was excited to possibly continue playing in an environment more unique than any I’ve ever played before.
Now, I am a rising senior who has seen the intricacies of what it takes to be a student-athlete but have not been one myself. I made friends with the coaching staff and players, who have come to accept me as one of their own, even though I am just a step above being a glorified ball-boy. It’s made my Villanova experience very unique and helped me find my place on campus.
ESSAY #39
Hi, my name is Michael Van Hare, I’m a senior Finance and Business Analytics major from Seattle, Washington, and this is my Villanova story.
As I reflect upon my Villanova experience these past 4 years, it has exceeded all that I could have hoped for. I have considered the prospect of myself losing the final months of my senior year to the COVID-19 outbreak, but rather than disappointment, I have approached the situation with appreciation. I consider myself lucky to have had the time that I had as a Wildcat. I came to Villanova searching for a school with the resources, faculty and student body, that would encourage me to challenge myself both socially and academically. What I ended up discovering, was a community capable of so much more. In addition to the late nights spent studying for finance tests, or prepping for interviews, there were also electrifying moments in the Finneran Pavilion, Special Olympics athlete practices, movie nights, and intramural championships, that combined have made my Villanova decision the most rewarding 4 years of my life. Villanova became the perfect environment for me to learn and grow into the student, friend and businessman I’d envisioned becoming.
ESSAY #40
Coming into Villanova as a freshman in 2016, I had the mentality that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer after I graduation solely because they have a high-floor base salary. I spent two and a half years studying a major that I didn’t enjoy because I felt like I was “locked” into that major and no changes could be made to my future now that I declared myself as a mechanical engineering major.
However, with the help of Villanova Basketball, I realized things can change for the better. The clear example of this was that during those 3 years of confusion I was having in the classroom, there were 3 years of change regarding where Villanova Basketball called home. If the home basketball stadium changed from the Pavilion to Wells Fargo Center to the Finneran Pavilion in 3 years, my idea of my future could also change in 3 years. This new mentality has allowed me to open my eyes to various career paths I could pursue. As I was no longer “locked” into being a mechanical engineer, I will be using the knowledge I learned at Villanova to become a math teacher after my upcoming graduation.
ESSAY #41
Initially, I didn't feel like I fit the typical Villanova mold. After some deep reflections and inhaling as many hoagies dipped in southwest sauce as I could, I decided to change the mold altogether. Rather than running away from my problems, I decided to run to another solution, leading me to wonder why people celebrate why they “Went Nova,” but never why they “Stayed Nova.”
What Villanova offers and teaches us is an intangible thing – gratitude. And if I’m being honest, I set out with the intention of writing to win, but it transformed into more of a thank you to Villanova. So, I say thank you Villanova. Thank you for helping me become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Thank you for all the tears, the laughs, and the freshman fifteens. I know not everything will be rainbows and butterflies, but I'm ready to take on the challenges. I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet, but I know that I have so much more to experience, and so many other Villanovans to get to know. I'm excited for what's to come, because like our favorite guy always says, we need “to become what we are not yet.”
ESSAY #42
Moving in, I shoved down the pit in my stomach, took a deep breath, and exhaled the negativity pent up in my brain. Reluctance was not going to enable me to make the most of my time here. Villanova was not my first choice, yet, despite my discontent, I was meant to be at Villanova, I just did not realize it yet.
Freshman year I dove in, committing to every extra curricular I could fit in my schedule. Receiving the controversial label of “Nationer,” it appeared I had completely bought in.
Sophomore year, despite enjoying everything Villanova had to offer, I was overextended which had not allowed me to find “my people.” Taking a step back, I let go of organizations I latched on to for “clout,” focusing instead on things that genuinely gave me joy.
Junior year, gaining confidence helped me authentically open up and be vulnerable in my relationships.
Senior year, I have never been happier. I spend my energy on projects that challenge and uplift me. I am surrounded by people who open my heart and mind. I am grounded in who I am and what my future looks like thanks to the experiences shared. How ironic that as I have never loved a place more, I am being forced to leave so soon. However, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
ESSAY #43
My Villanova story begins in Denver. I knew very little about Villanova until I began my college search! I originally planned to attend school in Colorado but wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. I focused on the degree when applying to college but didn’t realize how lonely and homesick my first semester would be. Since then I realized college and life are about developing as a person and learning from every experience. I now understand the importance of being genuine to myself and others.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take engineering and business classes, but I embrace many other on-campus opportunities. My involvement has helped me ignite change in my own life and spread positivity to those around me. The past three years transformed me into a more outgoing, caring, and dedicated person because I am surrounded by empathetic, hardworking people.
My engineering classmates, professors, fraternity brothers, and teammates have really become my family away from home. Though balancing school and athletics can be challenging, Mass, involvement in clubs/ service, connecting with alumni, and swimming have shown me that no Villanovan is ever alone. Everyone experiences personal challenges, but Villanova’s community supports each other through everything!
ESSAY #44
As a first generation college student and a first generation immigrant, nothing has been given to me. I wanted to achieve what my parents weren’t able to do. Not because I wasn’t proud of them, but I wanted to alleviate their burden. I was carrying the weight of that responsibility, and it was my reason for wanting to be successful. I pushed myself to climb the ladder of success to the point where it was wreaking havoc on my physical and mental well-beings. At one point, I intended to drop out.
Recognizing a need for major changes, I went through a transition my friends fondly recalled as a “glow up.” The term “glow up” alludes to a metamorphosis. For me it wasn't just a physical change, but it was also a spiritual and emotional one. A change where I have grown to understand what success means and looks like.
Villanova’s Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas taught me success is not about climbing for the sake for my own beneficial gain or isolating myself because I see others as competitors. It is about reaching out a hand to uplift those who are struggling and climbing together as one community!
ESSAY #45
I am the first person in my family to study engineering, but more importantly I am the first person in my family to go to Villanova! I chose it after attending Candidate’s Day and now I’m a proud member of Blue Key Society! I love sharing my Villanova story with others and I absolutely love Villanova. The community is unmatched, the basketball team is unbeatable, and the academics are unparalleled. I went to 11 basketball games this year and Hoops Mania. I loved every minute of it, and I can’t wait for future games. I hope one day I can be like John Ermilio (Nova Hat Guy), attending all of the home games and getting students fired up. Villanova felt like home for me from the first day I stepped on campus for orientation, and it still feels like it months later. In just a few months, I made friends from all over the country I will be friends with for the rest of my life. My favorite Villanova moment to date is when Villanova defeated the number one team in the country, Kansas, at the Wells Fargo Center. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute as a Wildcat!
ESSAY #46
In the short time that I’ve been at Villanova, I’ve found my people. These past few months have been a wild ride and I cannot wait to see what my future here will hold. I knew from the very first time I stepped on campus, it would be my new home, everything seemed right from the energy of the other students to Father Peter’s Candidates’ Day Speech. I trusted myself and made the right choice, my first semester at Villanova I had a few health scares: possible appendicitis, which turned out to be something else, and a mass found in my breast. Even though these scary things happened to me, I found support and comfort in my new-found friends who I now consider family. Villanova has made the biggest impact on my life it could’ve possibly made, no where else would I have been able to form these friendships, have the care and compassion of my professors and the Health Center staff. I truly believe Villanova cares about its students and everyone is a family here, you can see it with the disaster the world is in today, there’s nothing more that anyone wants than to be back at Nova.
ESSAY #47
Even though I’ve only spent half a year at Villanova, it has quickly become my second home. Villanova has shown me opportunities that I firmly believe that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. I am surrounded by people who are kind, giving, loving, supportive, and, most importantly, passionate. I’ve found my people: individuals I love being around, and who brighten each day for me. Being a member of the Villanova community has changed my life forever, and I relish the fact that it’s a place I’ll always be able to call home.
Everyone always talks about the community at Villanova, but there’s no way to fully encapsulate how it feels to be a member of it. I know that whenever I’m struggling, or looking for a helping hand, that I could find it anywhere I look. People are united by similar values and goals, and being surrounded by like-minded people actually helps you grow a lot more than you might expect. Growing in tandem with my classmates, and seeing us all come together in good times and in bad, has been the most amazing blessing, and Villanova has given that to me.
ESSAY #48
Since coming to Villanova, I have become a version of myself that my high school self could only have dreamed of becoming. I have been challenged to expand the way I think about and interact with the world around me; specifically, to think about the structures and constructs in place that privilege some, and oppress others. I owe this growth to the classes I have taken, with professors that taught with such conviction, relatability, and heart, that my mind was lit on fire with passion for social justice. However, what I learned in the classroom was not just left there. Villanova gave me many opportunities to apply my coursework to real life, through co-leading a service experience to Jamaica, and sitting on the board for Villanova Buddies. I am also privileged to be a producer for the international social justice documentary, which focuses on clean water access in Tanzania. Villanova has given me roots deep into a community that spans worldwide; one that I know I can always safely return to should I need it. But, Villanova has also given me wings; wings to take what I have learned and go out to be the changemaker, the disrupter, the leader I have learned to be.
ESSAY #49
My Villanova story started off very different from others, but from what I can tell so far, it has the same happy ending. April 30, 2019, as well as the entire month of April, was a very stressful day for me because I had to choose what school I wanted to attend for the next 4 years. Over the month I had narrowed down my choices to two schools, one of them being Villanova. At three o’clock on April 30th I received a call from my friend who told me she was going to help me decide, so she flipped a coin five times and when that last flip landed on heads, it was decided I was going to be a Villanovan. While I wasn’t really sure if Villanova would be the place for me at first, I am positive of it now. I have met without a doubt best people here and made the best memories, and I’m only a freshman! Within a week of attending this school I knew that I made the right choice. I could not be happier to call myself a Villanovan and I am truly gratefully to have found another home.
ESSAY #50
My experience at Villanova was one that was very challenging socially and academically but through my drive to make connections I was allowed to grow as a villanova student. When I arrived to Villanova, I realized this was a new setting for me and that it would take some adapting to, especially being a black female from the south side of Chicago. I was faced with difficulty with peers who were not used to people who look like me and even struggled in my classes because my lack of ability to ask for help when seeing difficulty in classes. Eventually, I took a step back and analyze what I could do to make better connections but also improve my work ethic in my classes.With the help of my advisor in CLAS and CASA, I was able to reach out to teachers and explain my challenges so that they knew I needed help. I eventually joined a dance club and an organization that helped mentor and tutor inner city and found more friends and people to connect with. Most of these connection led to long friendships and mentors. Villanova has taught me the value of connection and how far they can take you.
ESSAY #51
Up until last week, I had a fairly regular senior experience. With the outbreak of Coronavirus, we had 48 hours: to move off campus, to accept this new reality, and to fit senior spring into 2 nights. I won’t be a person who complains as the world is facing far greater issues, but I can’t help but mourn my last 2 months in the Villanova bubble. I know I will be seeing the lifelong friends I’ve made here again, but I am devastated about my class friends, familiar faces on campus, and the classmates that I’ll never get a chance to know. Except, as I write this from home, I’m surrounded by a community filled with Villanova bumper stickers and people who scream “Go Cats!” when they see Villanova apparel. I’ve learned, perhaps a little too early, that the Villanova community transcends campus; I might not have a senior spring, but I’ll have the rest of my life to enjoy that community. So just maybe, when we make it through this, we can look back and feel grateful that we were forced to learn how to live every day like our last, right as our lives are truly beginning.
ESSAY #52
Senior year of high school was the hardest year of my life. On the outside, I was thriving: a three-sport varsity athlete and a published artist with a perfect GPA. But on the inside? I had never felt so lost. I struggled with anorexia, perfectionism, and anxiety. Academically, I was in over my head, drowning in 7-8 hours of schoolwork every night. Sports became a major stressor. Even AP Art was overwhelming, requiring countless hours of drawing each weekend. But most of all, I struggled with taking care of my six-year-old sister, who was diagnosed with a debilitating genetic disorder the year before. To this day, it is the hardest challenge I have ever faced. However, attending Villanova and seeing the passion for inclusion has been life-changing. Having amazing friends who advocate for those with disabilities and understand my perspective has made me feel comfortable with my family’s situation, giving me the security I need to excel in my endeavors. I never expected the worst and best years of my life to be consecutive, but today, I am the happiest and most confident I’ve ever been. Above all else, Villanova has taught me to always have hope for the future.
ESSAY #53
“Vanilla-Nova”, of all the nicknames I had heard that’s the one that concerned me the most. You see my entire life I lived in a community of people who’s reflections did not match mine. Did I really want to risk another 4 years of my life enduring stereotypes and judgement ?
I loved the coaches that recruited me and I knew the amazing academic opportunities I would have so I said a prayer, kept an open mind and committed to becoming a Wildcat and I’m so thankful I did!
From the moment I met my awesome Orientation leader Kate and all the other freshman in my group I knew I found a place to call home! Never in my life had I felt so much warmth, so much acceptance. Villanova is a true community in every essence of the word. I have made friends spanning the whole country, from different socioeconomic groups and multiple races. My experience thus far has exceedingly surpassed any of my expectations!
I’m proud to call myself a Wildcat and I can say with the utmost confidence it’s anything but “Vanillanova”!
ESSAY #54
Villanova was a school I didn’t know about. Most people come from a Villanova Family, with generations going back having attended. I heard about Villanova my junior year of high school and toured on a whim. I immediately felt a part of the family and fell in love with the community—everything from athletics, to academics, to the sheer beauty of the campus. I truly believe this is place like no other, and it is at home, rather than on campus, that I feel a part of me missing in a way I never would have expected. Every break I have this itch to get back and see my friends, but this is different. This is fear that these people I’ve come to love and care about may be in harm’s way. Villanova has taught me how important being a well rounded person is. It’s more than just getting to know one side of other people. It’s getting to know and care about them on a deeper level.
ESSAY #55
I’m only a freshman and it feels like I’ve lost so much because of the abrupt end of the school year. I would have loved to be able to stay, attending my classes in person, enjoying the weather, seeing my friends, and getting to see March Madness and the Big East Tournament for the first time ever. I’m reminded of how I came into school so unsure of if I was meant to be at Nova, yet leaving with tears in my eyes, feeling so empty, only proved how right my decision was. My experience was one with the highest of highs, and the friends I have made in my time here have allowed me to grow so much and find a family that will support me through anything. I have learned what it means to be involved in a community that will truly always have your back, through every obstacle and wonderful experience. I’ve learned that being a wildcat is truly one of the greatest honors a person will ever have, and that there will always be people, even those you don’t know supporting you. Villanova is truly the most beautiful home and community.
ESSAY #56
Villanova has held such a special place in my heart since the year 2014. It was a no brainer to continue the legacy of my brother, Jalen Brunson when I decided to continue my education. The Villanova community has thousands of students with unique stories, however I feel as though mine is different than most. Coming to campus fall of 2019, I felt a huge weight on my shoulders. Living up to the expectations of my brother, answering numerous questions about him, and the feeling of being in his shadow. Of course, I am not going to receive the many accolades that Jalen once did, but I do intend to leave my mark at Villanova in ways he could not. Although my first year on campus has been cut short, I have learned an enormous amount about myself, and this beautiful community. With these heavy feelings and pressures, it was through the help of faculty and staff that guided me to find myself and know my worth. I have created strong relationships with my professors and faculty that will last a lifetime. These last few months have opened my eyes to a brighter future and to create my own path.
ESSAY #57
While it seems like for most people their college story was love at first sight, for me that was not the case. I loved the school on visits and I always knew I wanted to come here, but after moving in, I immediately had doubts. It felt like everyone around me had formed those everlasting bonds that you hear about in college, while I still felt lost. Finally I opened up to my friends about this and found out that they all felt the same way. Everyone was just doing the best they could to try to acclimate to the crazy changes of college. After learning that I wasn't alone in my feelings, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I was so much more open and appreciative of Villanova. The love that I felt for the school when I first visited it as a high-schooler returned and I started to embrace all so many opportunities. I joined clubs, got involved in different programs, and began to branch out and meet more people. So while I stated the year with some hesitation, I am so excited to see what the future will hold as a Wildcat.
ESSAY #58
I tutor in an ESL class with a Villanova service group weekly. As a Hispanic South Texas native, I know there are thousands of immigrants in my hometown struggling to assimilate into U.S. culture due to language barriers. I serve as a tutor to tangibly express my appreciation for the education I have received in my lifetime, and to remain mindful of my roots back home.
Taking an active role in helping Latino migrants is one of the most important responsibilities I have undertaken in my 18 years of life. Even though it does not come with a flamboyant leadership title this tutoring position holds a special place in my heart because of the impact it has had on me in seven short months.
As a young person to have the authority of a teacher in the life of an adult is incredibly humbling. However, at the end of the day I am still simply a Nova student with the privilege to learn through the eyes of Rosa, a migrant single-mother and student. Experiences like these that Villanova has brought into my life motivate me to embrace differences and continue to use my knowledge for the betterment of others.
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ESSAY #1
I entered Villanova University in the fall of 2017 as a nervous, wide-eyed Freshmen equipped with a stockpile of stories from family and friend’s past experiences. Overwhelmed by mixed feelings of excitement and anxiousness, I knew I needed to discover for myself what Villanova meant to me. The most salient discovery I made- Villanova is more than a memory. There are physical reminders, such as my family's stone bricks that lay in front of the Monastery that offer one glimpse into the many generations of dedication. Or, there are the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship trophies that sit on display in the Davis Center, that represent how any Villanovan victory is celebrated by all who proudly call themselves a Wildcat. Unpredictably, the feeling of standing among the thousand other members of the Class of 2021 during Orientation and the sensation of being in the student section in San Antonio’s Alamodome in 2018 are equal. Each new experience and every shining moment are shared by all who sing the fight song or throw up their V’s- they transcend memories beyond the ephemeral and into the living legacy that is shaped by Villanova tradition. That is what Villanova means to me.
ESSAY #2
Coming into college as a first-year student is a very intimidating experience. You do not know anyone and are in an unfamiliar place that is far from home. Villanova made this experience a lot easier. Ever since the first day I stepped on campus in late August, I knew I would have no problem calling this place my second home. My peers, the faculty, and the campus were all so accommodating to my needs and made me feel extremely welcomed. As my first semester progressed, things started getting more academically difficult. Luckily, Villanova has so many resources that helped me succeed. Second semester, I joined a sorority and felt even more included amongst my peers.
Villanova has completely changed my life, even though I have only been here for less than a year. The people that I have met and the experiences I have had has caused me to gain a strong love for campus and all the people I have met on it. I am so glad that I chose Villanova as my next step in my young adult life and would undoubtedly recommend attending this school to any accepted high school student.
ESSAY #3
I didn’t submit the required essay to get in here. Villanova was not my dream school. I had emailed the office of admissions in order to extend the submission date– when, out of nowhere, I received the email informing me of my acceptance. It’s a moment that will forever make me feel blessed, because it marked the beginning of the most impactful four years of my life.
When I came to Villanova, I didn’t know a single person. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to meet two random roommates who I still consider friends, but my experience as a whole hasn’t been as glamorous as my search for freshmen year roommates was. In fact, it’s been a roller coaster. There’s been ups– the 2018 National Championship, outstanding professors, delicious Campco, and more- but there’s also been downs- homesickness, the social pressures of a fraternity, not-so-great professors, etc. What’s stayed true throughout, however, is the welcoming, warm atmosphere that made Villanova feel like a second home, despite my sense of not belonging. It’s the kind nature and selfless attitude that has impacted me the most, and I will carry it with me and spread it for as long as I live.
ESSAY #4
Growing up in a town with poverty and high crime rates, it was hard to find a community near my home. Villanova’s campus was the first time I felt a sense of community. In this community, I found support and guidance from friends and faculty. Through this help, I was able to navigate the difficulty of post graduation confusion, interviews, and internships. I was also able to navigate the confusing world of being a first generation student. Lastly, I was given the strength to push forward when I thought I couldn’t because I had people supporting me and helping me. In addition to the support I received, I also felt a sense of identity. I knew once I started unpacking my suitcases in the blazing August heat, I was home. This was a place that I not only felt safe and comfortable, but also felt like I had a purpose, power, and support. With this courage, I was able to successfully pursue an academic career with a 3.8 GPA while working two jobs during the year, leading the International Business Society, and finding a full time job post graduation. Without this community, I do not think I would be strong enough to pursue the sacrifice I decided to pursue at 18. I am happy to have chosen Villanova. However, I am even happier that Villanova has chosen me and welcomed me with open arms.
ESSAY #5
I have a very unique Villanova journey. Villanova has always been my dream school but unfortunately, I was not admitted out of high school. I transferred to Villanova after my freshman year and internally struggled because I believed I was not “smart” enough to succeed. My first semester, I earned a 4.0 GPA and am graduating in May with high honors. The Villanova basketball program is the reason I developed interest in Villanova. I watched countless Nova basketball games growing up because my dad’s friend played here and followed the team. I’ve attended every Villanova basketball game possible since enrolling. I saw 30 Villanova basketball wins in a row before witnessing my first loss against Creighton on 2/1. It’s been a running joke for the past 3 years that I’m Nova’s “good luck charm”. On campus I am involved with CLAS Ambassadors, the Outdoors Club, and Chi Omega. I led a service justice experience to Marion, South Carolina. I also volunteer with the Special Olympics basketball athletes where I teach them how to play and improve their skills. Additionally, I am featured in the Villanova school commercial! I truly believe no one is a bigger Villanova fan than me.
ESSAY #6
The best birthday gift I ever received was my acceptance letter from Villanova in early December of 2015. I vividly remember tears streaming down my face as I hugged my parents in celebration of what was the biggest accomplishment of my life at the time. Villanova was my dream school, but it was also a significant reach school for me. During the application process, I was told by an admissions counselor to “not be discouraged by a deferred decision,” so looking back on the night I got into Villanova, it’s no wonder that I was overcome by emotion. Four years (and two national championships) later, I have plenty to be thankful for from my time at Villanova. I found a strong sense of community in Villanova’s Campus Ministry, where I participated in and led numerous service trips and retreats. Above all, my Villanova career has taught me that the most important things in life are close relationships with friends and family. While classes, clubs, and even the basketball season come and go, the people with whom we share those moments in life, like getting accepted into your dream school, stay with us and are what make them so special.
ESSAY #7
I was first introduced to Villanova as a basketball rival of my hometown team, Syracuse. The Nova-Syracuse rivalry was one of the biggest rivalries in the Big East at the time and not very many people in Syracuse liked Villanova. However, my older brother said at a very young age that Villanova was his dream school, which surprised everyone in my family. When my brother applied to colleges, he ended up applying to Nova early decision and was very excited to come to Villanova when he was accepted. When I applied to colleges, I decided that I would at least apply to Nova (because my brother would already be there), but I didn’t think Nova was my number one school. Eventually my choices came down to Nova and WPI, and my decision to come to Nova was in part influenced by the fact that Villanova has such a successful basketball program. Now my younger brother has applied early decision to Nova, gotten accepted and will be starting classes in the fall. My whole family has become avid Villanova basketball fans who will do anything in their power to watch Nova whether it be in person or on television.
ESSAY #8
Villanova basketball has been a huge part of my Villanova experience, from before I even committed to Nova, to now. I didn’t think I would be able to attend Villanova (even though it was my top choice) due to financial reasons. However, just days before Villanova won the national championship in 2016, my parents told me I would be able to attend after receiving my financial aid package from the school. When Villanova won the championship, it felt like a sign. My freshman year at Villanova, I had a hard time making friends, and briefly considered transferring. That idea vanished when basketball season came around. Going to games in the pavilion reminded me of why I wanted to come to this school in the first place: the community. I felt like I was a part of something great when surrounded by other students in those stands. I thought I would never be more grateful that I stayed at Villanova than I was on the night of the championship in 2018, but I was wrong. I am more grateful now, in my senior year, having just attended senior night and my last game in the new pavilion with my best friends.
ESSAY #9
I matriculated in August, 2018. Like every freshman, I stumbled through the awkward luau, I found some friends, I joined too many clubs. In September, my life careened. I began having terrible headaches. Over two weeks they worsened daily. I speculated about the cause of the debilitating pain: internalizing stress, dorm mold? Eventually, an MRI on September 30 revealed the source: a golf-ball sized brain tumor. Within days I underwent an awake craniotomy. In weeks, I began and finished chemotherapy and radiation. I started regular immunotherapy infusions and electroporation vaccines.
In January of 2019, a month after chemo and radiation, I began at Villanova again. I could never have predicted my cancer, but moreso, I could never have imagined Villanova’s incredible, loving, joyous, overwhelming response.
Classmates I had just met visited my hospital bedside for hours. Numerous Villanova Instagram accounts and Jay Wright posted to support me and my GoFundMe. Hundreds of students I had never met created beautiful, personal cards and sent me a treasured Villanova blanket. Villanova embraced and smoothed my return with open arms, accomodation, and personal faculty attention. LEVEL helps me share my story to help others. My unique story is quintessential Villanova: family.
ESSAY #10
My unique Villanova story started six years before I unpacked my bags at Stanford. It was the year I began playing travel basketball, the year the Big East became the New Big East, and the year Phil Booth was the top Villanova recruit. I became interested after my coach made up plays named for NCAA teams, and “NOVA!” was where everyone swung to the right, as I drove left to the basket. Coincidence? I think not.
My experience: I’ve seen Collin go next level play in the second half, Jermaine’s three vs. Kansas for the W, Jeremiah’s numerous put backs, and Dada dunk with authority. I witnessed Arcidiacono’s jersey retired, waited out the “rain delay” at Butler, and saw my mom on ESPN holding a “Go Nova” sign at the Myrtle Beach tournament. It’s in the genes.
My lottery number got me into every home game but one, Senior night at the Finn. Undeterred, I purchased a ticket on-line at a price roughly equal to two day’s pay lifeguarding this summer. Well worth it.
To be in the stands yelling “NOVA!” as Saddiq drives left to the basket during March Madness would be a dream come true. V’s up!
ESSAY #11
My life has always been about family - relatives and teammates. As a varsity football and lacrosse player, I was always part of a team. We were always there for each other. Attending Villanova and leaving this family was tough. As the only freshman from Ann Arbor, I worried finding the support of such a family again was impossible. When I arrived, I knew no one my age; almost everyone already seemed connected through the east coast; my freshman dorm was on main; and to top it off, I was cut from the club lacrosse team when I sprained my ankle. This was the one group I had hoped would become my family. Everything seemed hopeless until I realized that I had already developed a family. I was living in the best dorm, Alumni. Our small, diverse dorm, isolated on main, had bonded into our own family. We had gotten to know each other, had shared our diverse personal experiences, and looked out for each other. The dorm I thought I would hate has become my favorite place. This has taught me you may not find a family in the places you expect and diversity makes it even better.
ESSAY #12
My freshman year went as most go for Villanovans, I got involved on campus, joined a sorority, Club Basketball and made friends, while enjoying the Old Pavilion for its final season. After freshman year, I went home for summer, and found out I had Lymphoma and had to take off from school.
How could I miss a semester? How could I not be with my friends? How could I miss the basketball games? My Nova friends were constantly supporting me. Little things everyday helped me get through it. Then, Jay Wright called me. Right then and there I knew Villanova was my new home. Nothing tops getting a care package from the Villanova Men’s Basketball Team. When I came back, it was perfect timing to see Villanova wins its 3rd national championship!
The Villanova community helped me in more ways that I could have ever imagined, teaching me how important it is to make memories with those you love and spend all the time you can with your friends. I would love to see them start their journey to another final four as I finish up my 4 years with Nova Nation.
ESSAY #13
On November 11, 2015, I was diagnosed with a blood cancer. As I got home that day, I found a letter from my dream school, Villanova University, in my mailbox. I opened it, saw Congratulations”, and immediately knew 2 things: 1. Everything was going to be okay, maybe not that day or the next, but eventually, and 2. Villanova was meant to be a part of my story.
Through treatment, Villanova was home. I found myself immersed in the culture from afar. I watched basketball games on television, did online courses, and found comfort in the V. My last chemotherapy treatment was on April 4, 2016, just hours before Jenkins hit his most famous shot. The best day of my life.
My cancer returned during spring break in 2019, and I was once again pulled from campus. This round didn’t have any magic dates with acceptances or championships, but, that was okay, because throughout the entire journey, Villanova was there for me. I found out this past week I had no evidence of disease in my body anymore. I am back in remission and I get to return to Villanova and finish my story here as I’ve always dreamed.
ESSAY #14
Give willingly, love selflessly, be open and happiness will find its way towards you. I found happiness following this mantra through serving others at Villanova and local communities. But also, I realized that by doing so, happiness would be redirected abundantly back my way. To serve and love others guided how I spent my free time at school. I've been a retreat leader teaching Villanova students how to love oneself, God, and others, an orientation counselor helping new students acclimate to campus, a facilitator in the service learning community spearheading service projects in low-income areas throughout Philadelphia and teaching undergraduates about topics of service justice, and committee member on NOVAdance fundraising over $500,000 for kids fighting pediatric cancer. Giving back to Villanova I've received so many amazing things in return. I travelled on a study abroad program to China and saw the Great Wall, interned for a local nonprofit in Shanghai, met my best friends and travelled the world with them, networked with amazing alumni and received my dream job after college, created an instagram page called Funcertainty where I take other students on spontaneous adventures and learned how to love myself and share love with others even more.
ESSAY #15
I got called a fool in my high school senior year calculus class for the statement I had just made. It was 2016, and after being upset again and again in the tournament I had declared, “This is Jay Wright’s year.” I still hadn’t decided whether I would go to Villanova but I was leaning towards it. Nobody else believed in Villanova until they proved everyone wrong. When Kris Jenkins hit that magical shot, I knew I had a home in Villanova, a home where the impossible was possible.
Just as I had believed in Villanova, I came to learn that the school believes in me just as much if not more. I am not the typical Villanova student, I am from rural Texas originally, study international affairs and speak Arabic, and have as many interests as there are passes in a Nova possession. Yet, I fit in perfectly here. I’ve had professor after professor believe in me and propel me to opportunities. Getting to see Villanova play would be a poetic finish to my senior of college. Just as seeing Villanova’s excellence on the court brought me here, it would be fitting for it to send me out.
ESSAY #16
My Villanova story has been atypical. In April of my sophomore year I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. Although my battle with cancer was one of the worst periods of my life, the Villanova community did everything in its power to help me through, and then some. I not only had to worry about my recovery, but also the remainder of my semester. My academic stress was eased by the support of my professors. Throughout this time, my professors were incredibly accommodating with me, ensuring that I was able to finish the year. What surprised me was many of them took the effort to reach out personally to check in, exemplifying Villanova as a whole. My friends respected my privacy while still showing support, and throughout the remainder of my battle with cancer, the Villanova community continued to be a critical support system for me. I could not imagine how much harder it would have been on my family and me without the full support of my community. I learned first-hand how Villanova takes care of their own and I am forever grateful. I am happy to report that I am now going into my senior year cancer-free. Go Cats!
ESSAY #17
Villanova changed my life. After 17 years of being around mean, abusive, and dishonest people I nearly lost my faith in humanity. I felt I could never trust the words "friend" and "family" again after I saw how my mother and I were treated during and after her battle with brain cancer. Then I went to Villanova and for the first time, I was in a community of love and kindness. I loved people, they loved me, and I finally found a friend group after a life of social isolation and bullying. I thought I couldn't make friends because I have Autism but from being at Villanova I learned that people are good and they will accept you for who you are. I thought my world was ending when my mother died during my first semester. But then I found incredible friends at Villanova and got closer to my family which helped me overcome and find happiness in this difficult time. Before Villanova I was scared of everything and everyone, I thought people were sinful and friendship was a lie. At Villanova, I found friendship, love, and acceptance. Now I see good in people and the world.
ESSAY #18
If I had to pick one word to describe my story as a Villanovan, it would be “opportunity.” It all started when I decided to choose a college at a place where I would enter not knowing anybody. Immediately, I had the chance to take advantage of everything the Villanova School of Business had to offer. VSB led me to choose accounting as my major, a daunting decision that would require much sacrifice. The road of accounting led me to interning with PricewaterhouseCoopers in the winter of 2020, taking place during the infamous “busy season” of accounting. Now, as I am on the back-end of my Junior year, I am grateful for the many opportunities this school has given me, including all of the connections I have made, the invaluable lessons and information I have learned from classes and professors, and my full time job offer from PwC. Villanova has not only taught me dedication and sacrifice, but to take chances in life. All the opportunities that Villanova has given to me appeared scary at first, but I have learned that if you want to achieve your goals, taking that the road less traveled is how to get there.
ESSAY #19
Villanova was changing my life long before I was a freshman. When I was 12, I was unwillingly signed up for a baton twirling camp which was hosted by the Villanova Twirlers, taking place on Villanova’s campus. Seeing it as an overly-complex and old-fashioned hobby, I was adamantly against it.
What I didn’t expect was to fall in love with twirling completely. Returning home after camp, I joined a twirling team and even competed nationally. Twirling was the perfect combination of an athletic sport and a creative performance art, and going into college, I knew I wanted a school with opportunities for me to twirl. Little did I know my journey would come full circle when I was accepted at Villanova University, and I continued my twirling career as a Villanova Twirler.
Thanks to Villanova, I was introduced to a sport that made me hard-working, resilient, and confident. Twirling is one of my greatest passions, and I’m so blessed to be on a team I can proudly call my family. My favorite memory at Villanova is performing at a basketball game during our 2018 National Championship-winning season. Nothing beats the thrill of twirling for all the Villanova fans! Go Cats!
ESSAY #20
The stress of registering for the perfect classes each semester, difficulty of finding a table in the Exchange during finals week, or the anxious feelings of waiting to discover the results of the basketball ticket lotteries are all familiar feelings that I will soon be losing upon graduation next year. My only regret is that I won’t be able to experience these feelings much longer. When I began freshman year here at Villanova, I had the task of absorbing new customs and seeking out new learning opportunities due to my physical relocation from Springfield, Illinois. However, this task only motivated me to become the best version of myself and ultimately catapulted my personal growth. I have learned here that I am not afraid of failure and that fear of failure can only halt my own success. As a second semester Junior, I am proud to say that my choice to attend Villanova has given me friends that will be standing by me for years to come. I am a better man, student, and friend because of my time at this university and I will be proud to come back as an alumnus, ready to meet the next generation of Wildcats.
ESSAY #21
My first time walking the cherry tree path up to the Villanova Church and past our beloved Oreo, the first word I associated with Villanova was “Spirit”. Every student rocked his or her favorite gear and I wanted to develop and demonstrate this same enthusiasm. So, I arrive at each Men’s and Women’s basketball game 1 to 1.5 hours early to experience every part of the battles. Plus, I made a special banner for my final Women’s game attendance to congratulate Coach Perretta on his amazing career, so special of a banner, that he asked to have it! The second major quality I developed at Villanova was being Eager to pursue new experiences and be a spokesperson for them. I study Quantitative Finance: a young, ambitious concentration with 25 students in my class. I love it and avidly sell to other bright business students to pursue it as well. Additionally, I am the first Villanova student to study abroad in Ecuador. To bring a differentiated cultural perspective back to campus, excite students with my stories of Cuy dishes and unmatched natural preservation (features indicative of Ecuador), and entice students to study in Ecuador for themselves, makes me very proud.
ESSAY #22
Ever since watching Villanova’s Final Four run in 2009 when I was in third grade, I have felt like a part of the Villanova community. Villanova became my dream school, and I made sure to represent everywhere. The day I was admitted in March 2018 was the happiest day of my life, as my lifelong dream came true. I have stood out in a particular way since my first day on campus. My friends know me as the guy who wears nothing but Villanova gear, because it’s true. I’ll almost never be seen on campus wearing anything else. Also, my knowledge of Villanova Basketball is quite often unmatched. I spend almost all my free time reading the latest VU Hoops write-up or watching the latest Nova Nation All-Access video. I also frequently speak on the WXVU radio station about Villanova Basketball. I never miss a game, and I can’t get enough! From my time on campus, I have learned to be accepting of everyone because everyone has their own unique story. I have met some really interesting people, many of whom have become my closest friends here. I am so grateful that Villanova has taught me to be open!
ESSAY #23
My Villanova experience has been an interesting one to say the least. I came to this school initially because I was a part of the Varsity softball team on campus. Having no idea what I wanted my future career to be, I began exploring the media production specialization through the communication department. I met Professor Hezekiah Lewis, and he inspired me to take the Social Justice Documentary Class. In order to fully participate and pour my heart into this project, I had to quit the softball team at the end of my junior year. Although it was one of the most difficult decisions of my life, I am so proud and thankful that I chose to do so. The documentary that we have been working on for the entirety of this year has changed my life for the better and helped me to understand what I wanted my future career path to be. Our class is currently raising $90,000 to build two wells in the villages of Malolo and Jamida, the villages we visited in Tanzania, as a thank you for allowing us to document their lives and how the water crisis has affected them.
ESSAY #24
As is the case for many Villanovans, it was on Candidate’s Day that I knew I’d found my home at Villanova. I remember the car ride early that April morning, my stomach churning with a mix of excitement and skepticism. Many had told me I would love it here, that I would succeed here, that I was as much a perfect fit for Villanova as Villanova was for me—but I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to believe them yet. This would be the first time I had ever been; a contrast to my multiple visits to another possibility over previous months in hopes to manifest a different college experience. But as we approached the intersection of Lancaster and Ithan, greeted by hundreds of Blue Key members holding signs and cheering, I realized that 800 Lancaster Avenue was my new home. It was the first time I felt like I belonged, as though Villanova wanted me here. I’ve made friends I’ll keep forever, connections that will help me in the future, and am doing what I love. As my freshman year approaches its (slightly premature) end, I look around and know that there is nowhere else I’d rather be.
ESSAY #25
My Nova story is different because of my involvement in Army ROTC. When I first arrived at Villanova, I was very nervous and scared, and even doubted if I’d be able to make it in the Army. However, what I’ve found in the Army is something that I could’ve never imagined. I have found my second family and closest friends. Each morning, before the sun has even risen, I look forward to seeing each one of my comrades because they make me feel at home and welcome. They continuously motivate me, support me, and encourage me. I would’ve never been able to push myself beyond my own limits and get to where I am today without them. Yes, of course some days are tough, but we all “embrace the suck” together so it doesn’t seem so bad after all. Within my first year of being here, I have met some really amazing people who inspire me and always remind me to believe in myself and have confidence in my abilities. I truly owe my growth and success to my Army family for inspiring me to be a better version of myself and making my first year at Villanova so memorable.
ESSAY #26
“Where are you from?” It’s a simple answer, really, but with five moves, six locations, seven schools, eight houses, and one dad in the Navy, it’s a question I cannot answer. My time at Villanova is the longest I have been promised to live in one place, and I am determined to make it my new “home.” While I once worried about the unknown, I am at peace knowing that with this community, I will have the time and encouragement to become what I am not yet. Although my story has only begun, I have explored faith and music with the Pastoral Musicians, developed a passion for welcoming others with Blue Key, and learned the foundations of Civil Engineering and design. My friends have filled the missing pieces of my heart and become my family. They have taught me to cherish the present, take risks, cheer loudly, smile often, be adventurous, dance unapologetically, ask questions, embrace challenge, and so much more. The Villanova campus looks nothing like the military base I live on, but I can’t wait for it to become my new “normal” so that in the future when people ask where I’m from, I can tell them, “Villanova.”
ESSAY #27
As a freshman I performed a poem at the Villanova Church about marriage. Freshman year I was not thinking about getting married but my parents were married in the church. Neither of them were alumni but they lived in Bryn Mawr and therefore could marry at the church. The poem I performed was about entering the next era of one’s life, and after deciding to attend Villanova I realized that my parents had stepped into the next era of their lives in the same place I would step into mine. Villanova was not a place I expected to attend, but it was a place that held such a significant history for my family. I learned to reach beyond what was expected but not forget the history that had led me to my place in life. I learned to become my own person without forgetting where I began. Creating my own experiences, in NOVAdance, The Honors Program and Student Government is what I will cherish most about Villanova. The poem was a turning point; it allowed me to celebrate the tradition that I wanted to continue while establishing an experience of my own and for that I will be forever grateful.
ESSAY #28
Once A Wildcat, Always A Wildcat:)
I am a senior from South Africa who had the fortunate opportunity to end my swimming career at Big East which many other fellow student-athletes did not have the opportunity to do. The time had come to fully experience what a normal college life was like. Little did I know that the next couple of weeks would come down to moving out and having to leave campus for the very last semester of your college career. The last few days has been an indescribable journey and my heart mourns with all fellow seniors. Times at Kelly’s Taproom celebrating all the love, joy and friendships Nova has brought us! Gathering for sunsets at the Villanova church and just fully appreciating everyone and what this wonderful university has given us! Many shedding tears and heartache over the thought of having to leave friends who have become family before the semester ends. But at the same time, reminding me to be grateful to have something that makes goodbyes so hard. Hopeful that we will return to school after Easter Break, and celebrate Senior Week and Graduation! We are strong and will overcome this!
ESSAY #29
From day one as Villanovans we are taught to humble ourselves in our Augustinian community and help those around us to grow. We are told that the best way to get through the hard times is to “lean into” the discomfort we feel, and to rely on those around us. Coming in as a freshman in 2017, I remember rolling my eyes at these statements thinking, “there’s no way everyone here buys into this.” Now, as a junior, I can confidently say I stand corrected. My Villanova experience has been filled with nothing but love, and I know that the friendships I have made here are ones that will last a lifetime. The Villanova community fosters not just creativity and knowledge, but loyalty and compassion. The friends I have made here have become my family. The people I have gone to the library with at 6am during finals week, are the same people I eat Campco with at midnight on a Friday. Though next Fall will be the beginning of the end of my time at Villanova, I know that the people I have met here will forever be the people I “lean into” during those hard times, which is what has made this time absolutely priceless.
ESSAY #30
People always ask why I went to Villanova, coming all the way from Texas. Moving 1500 miles away for a college degree isn’t for everyone. What I’ve enjoyed for four years is what I discovered in minutes on campus: Texans and Villanovans are quite alike. We go crazy for our team; We care for our community and put family first; We are so proud to be Wildcats that we won’t shut up about it; We aren’t fazed by adversity, so it’s best not to mess with us. But there is one striking difference: I may not have asked to be a Texan, but I chose to be a Villanovan and thank God I did. I chose to volunteer for SpO, to live on campus all four years, to cheer at the old Pavilion, Wells Fargo, and the Finn until my throat hurt, to find hidden gems on campus and always stay away from 4th floor Tolentine. But most importantly, I chose to make new friends, a new family, and a new home. I will always be from Texas, but my heart will always have its place at Villanova. Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat. Thank you, Nova. I love you.
ESSAY #31
I was tucked away in my little cubicle for so long, away from my bed and a potential nap, that I was ready to accept failure for whatever assignment or test I had the next day. Freshman year had a lot of ups; I met some people that I know I will actively cherish for the rest of my life, and I fell in love with a community of warm, fun, and passionate people.
Freshman year also had its downs; right alongside what I consider to be my beautiful transformation into a full-fledged adult were my first confrontations with anxiety and depression. What people that haven’t had issues with their mental health do not understand is that when you are in a bad month or four, there is no let up. That horrible little voice never relents.
As I stared blankly at Homework X, a laughing duo turned the corner and walked towards me. I looked up per usual, looked back down, blankly, and looked back up again. Even in my state, I was in awe of Jalen Brunson and Dante, and stared; they noticed. Five minutes later, Jalen sat across from me and asked “Are you ok?”.
ESSAY #32
Villanova has given me a voice.
I’ve always had a passion for storytelling. Coming here, I knew I wanted to join The Villanovan.
During my freshman year, I gained any experience I could by writing what I would call ‘the little stories.’ I covered club activities and rewrote press releases. I found my voice sophomore year, deciding that my position as a Staff Writer held more power than I originally thought. I began to introduce stories to my editors, and they let me have total reign on my pieces and interviews.
My passion for sharing news on campus with my peers led me to apply for a position as News Editor. I spent a year with my fellow Co News Editor (soon-to-be best friend and role model) planning stories, writing articles, and working with our staff to produce an in-depth section each week.
The Villanovan has allowed me to find my vocation and share my passion with others. In no other way would I be as fulfilled as I am now, as Co-Editor-in-Chief, being able to help my peers, teachers,, and University alumni by keeping our community connected, especially while we navigate this frightening global pandemic together.
ESSAY #33
My Villanova story makes me different because of my passion for the game of basketball. At my high school, we did not get to enjoy many winning seasons or an energetic student section. When I stepped into the Finneran Pavilion for the first time, seeing so many passionate classmates and fans as well as an incredibly talented basketball program was definitely a culture shock. I felt right at home in the front row of the student section cheering on the Wildcats at many of the games at the Finn as well as at the Wells Fargo Center. With my short time on campus, I have learned that there are several other people that share a love of the game of basketball. I have made a lot of my new friends from attending games in the student section or just playing pick-up basketball at Jake Nevin Field House or the Stanford court. It has truly fulfilled the image of my dream school, and I cannot wait to get back to campus for school and for the basketball season to begin once again.
ESSAY #34
Walking past the Oreo during my high school tour, I could envision myself perfectly on Villanova’s campus. But I could never have imagined the profound impact Villanova University would end up making on me as an individual. As a young freshman VSB student, I participated in my first case study competition, which taught me how to apply the business skills I was learning in the classroom. As a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics scholar in the honors program, I studied abroad at the University of Cambridge in England my sophomore year where I traveled to 10 countries, explored new cultures, and ate amazing food. During my junior year, I attended more basketball games than I can count. I buckled down on machine learning research with a professor and learned how to code in Python. My proudest accomplishment my senior year was leading a Service and Justice break trip to West Virginia. I learned about Catholic Social Teaching and set an example for my fellow students. I believe the Villanova Augustinian principles have molded my experience over the past 4 years, as I strived to embody truth, unity, and love in everything I did and continue to do.
ESSAY #35
As far as Villanova Stories go I think mine is cooler than it is crazy. Since coming to school just under two years ago, I’ve learned just how much of an alumni oriented school Villanova really is, whether it be my friends or family friends through my parents, it seems like everyone who goes to Villanova knows an abundance of others who went to Villanova at some point and had a great experience.
I can’t really say that this is different for me, my grandfather went to Villanova along with my aunt and my uncle. Although, this is where it gets interesting, while my aunt and uncle both went to Villanova they are not my aunt and uncle by marriage, and yes, while they dated starting at Villanova and for years afterward, they ended up breaking up, although, in that whole, weird process, they introduced my parents to each other at a New York Islanders game.
So, while I am not a direct legacy of Villanova through my parents, I really think of myself as a direct result of Villanova University because, without that relationship between my Father’s brother and Mother’s sister, my Villanova story would not be a story.
ESSAY #36
We’ve all been there. Sweaty and sprinting across campus in a desperate attempt to make it to class in Bartley within the 10-minute break. And as you wheezily climb those concrete stairs, you look up. Without fail, there’s some kind soul waiting with a patient grin, holding the door open for you. To me, this simple gesture captures my Villanova experience.
Villanova has opened so many doors for me that I’ve nearly lost count. It's opened the door to finding my passion, and thus employment. It's opened the door to service, allowing me to discover my love of tutoring and helping others. It's opened the door to St. Thomas, welcoming me into a deeper relationship with Christ. It's opened the door to Katherine Dormitory, where a random roommate became my best friend. It's opened the door to the Pavilion, where memories have been made and championships have been won.
But most importantly, it's taught me to open the door for others. And though my time opening doors on campus may be limited, I have the rest of my life to open doors, literally and figuratively, for other Villanovans. Because once you’re a Wildcat, you’re always a Wildcat.
ESSAY #37
Villanova was not my first choice; in fact, it wasn’t even close, so when I arrived, I was less than enthusiastic. I felt like I didn’t belong. I was the only one from my high school, my parents weren’t alumni, and I didn’t have a cousin that was an upperclassman. My Villanova story didn’t start off great; it actually didn’t even start. However, this all changed for one reason: being an LPH at Villanova’s Fall Festival. This was where my story began, where I finally understood what it meant to be a part of the Villanova community, where I met my best friends, and where I finally embraced being a Wildcat. One weekend changed my entire four years of college. It led me to my two biggest passions, LEVEL, and NovaDance. In just a few short weeks, I was able to raise over $5,000 dollars “For The Kids” and although the event was postponed, the message was not. And LEVEL showed me that it was okay to be different, where I stopped hiding that I have Crohn’s disease, and started embracing it. My Villanova story is a lot of things, but the one thing it’s not, is over.
ESSAY #38
As all true Wildcats do, I love our basketball team. Basketball has always been my favorite sport and I was fortunate to be able to play throughout high school. Coming to Villanova, I thought my competitive days were over. Never did I dream I, a man, would become a Villanova Women’s Basketball player. On the practice squad.
It began freshman year after discovering I, like many others, had not made the Men’s Club Basketball team. However, one of the seniors on the club team told those who didn’t make it that there was an opportunity to try out to be a Women’s practice player, which he actively participated in. I was excited to possibly continue playing in an environment more unique than any I’ve ever played before.
Now, I am a rising senior who has seen the intricacies of what it takes to be a student-athlete but have not been one myself. I made friends with the coaching staff and players, who have come to accept me as one of their own, even though I am just a step above being a glorified ball-boy. It’s made my Villanova experience very unique and helped me find my place on campus.
ESSAY #39
Hi, my name is Michael Van Hare, I’m a senior Finance and Business Analytics major from Seattle, Washington, and this is my Villanova story.
As I reflect upon my Villanova experience these past 4 years, it has exceeded all that I could have hoped for. I have considered the prospect of myself losing the final months of my senior year to the COVID-19 outbreak, but rather than disappointment, I have approached the situation with appreciation. I consider myself lucky to have had the time that I had as a Wildcat. I came to Villanova searching for a school with the resources, faculty and student body, that would encourage me to challenge myself both socially and academically. What I ended up discovering, was a community capable of so much more. In addition to the late nights spent studying for finance tests, or prepping for interviews, there were also electrifying moments in the Finneran Pavilion, Special Olympics athlete practices, movie nights, and intramural championships, that combined have made my Villanova decision the most rewarding 4 years of my life. Villanova became the perfect environment for me to learn and grow into the student, friend and businessman I’d envisioned becoming.
ESSAY #40
Coming into Villanova as a freshman in 2016, I had the mentality that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer after I graduation solely because they have a high-floor base salary. I spent two and a half years studying a major that I didn’t enjoy because I felt like I was “locked” into that major and no changes could be made to my future now that I declared myself as a mechanical engineering major.
However, with the help of Villanova Basketball, I realized things can change for the better. The clear example of this was that during those 3 years of confusion I was having in the classroom, there were 3 years of change regarding where Villanova Basketball called home. If the home basketball stadium changed from the Pavilion to Wells Fargo Center to the Finneran Pavilion in 3 years, my idea of my future could also change in 3 years. This new mentality has allowed me to open my eyes to various career paths I could pursue. As I was no longer “locked” into being a mechanical engineer, I will be using the knowledge I learned at Villanova to become a math teacher after my upcoming graduation.
ESSAY #41
Initially, I didn't feel like I fit the typical Villanova mold. After some deep reflections and inhaling as many hoagies dipped in southwest sauce as I could, I decided to change the mold altogether. Rather than running away from my problems, I decided to run to another solution, leading me to wonder why people celebrate why they “Went Nova,” but never why they “Stayed Nova.”
What Villanova offers and teaches us is an intangible thing – gratitude. And if I’m being honest, I set out with the intention of writing to win, but it transformed into more of a thank you to Villanova. So, I say thank you Villanova. Thank you for helping me become comfortable with being uncomfortable. Thank you for all the tears, the laughs, and the freshman fifteens. I know not everything will be rainbows and butterflies, but I'm ready to take on the challenges. I'm nowhere near where I want to be yet, but I know that I have so much more to experience, and so many other Villanovans to get to know. I'm excited for what's to come, because like our favorite guy always says, we need “to become what we are not yet.”
ESSAY #42
Moving in, I shoved down the pit in my stomach, took a deep breath, and exhaled the negativity pent up in my brain. Reluctance was not going to enable me to make the most of my time here. Villanova was not my first choice, yet, despite my discontent, I was meant to be at Villanova, I just did not realize it yet.
Freshman year I dove in, committing to every extra curricular I could fit in my schedule. Receiving the controversial label of “Nationer,” it appeared I had completely bought in.
Sophomore year, despite enjoying everything Villanova had to offer, I was overextended which had not allowed me to find “my people.” Taking a step back, I let go of organizations I latched on to for “clout,” focusing instead on things that genuinely gave me joy.
Junior year, gaining confidence helped me authentically open up and be vulnerable in my relationships.
Senior year, I have never been happier. I spend my energy on projects that challenge and uplift me. I am surrounded by people who open my heart and mind. I am grounded in who I am and what my future looks like thanks to the experiences shared. How ironic that as I have never loved a place more, I am being forced to leave so soon. However, how lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
ESSAY #43
My Villanova story begins in Denver. I knew very little about Villanova until I began my college search! I originally planned to attend school in Colorado but wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. I focused on the degree when applying to college but didn’t realize how lonely and homesick my first semester would be. Since then I realized college and life are about developing as a person and learning from every experience. I now understand the importance of being genuine to myself and others.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take engineering and business classes, but I embrace many other on-campus opportunities. My involvement has helped me ignite change in my own life and spread positivity to those around me. The past three years transformed me into a more outgoing, caring, and dedicated person because I am surrounded by empathetic, hardworking people.
My engineering classmates, professors, fraternity brothers, and teammates have really become my family away from home. Though balancing school and athletics can be challenging, Mass, involvement in clubs/ service, connecting with alumni, and swimming have shown me that no Villanovan is ever alone. Everyone experiences personal challenges, but Villanova’s community supports each other through everything!
ESSAY #44
As a first generation college student and a first generation immigrant, nothing has been given to me. I wanted to achieve what my parents weren’t able to do. Not because I wasn’t proud of them, but I wanted to alleviate their burden. I was carrying the weight of that responsibility, and it was my reason for wanting to be successful. I pushed myself to climb the ladder of success to the point where it was wreaking havoc on my physical and mental well-beings. At one point, I intended to drop out.
Recognizing a need for major changes, I went through a transition my friends fondly recalled as a “glow up.” The term “glow up” alludes to a metamorphosis. For me it wasn't just a physical change, but it was also a spiritual and emotional one. A change where I have grown to understand what success means and looks like.
Villanova’s Augustinian values of Veritas, Unitas, and Caritas taught me success is not about climbing for the sake for my own beneficial gain or isolating myself because I see others as competitors. It is about reaching out a hand to uplift those who are struggling and climbing together as one community!
ESSAY #45
I am the first person in my family to study engineering, but more importantly I am the first person in my family to go to Villanova! I chose it after attending Candidate’s Day and now I’m a proud member of Blue Key Society! I love sharing my Villanova story with others and I absolutely love Villanova. The community is unmatched, the basketball team is unbeatable, and the academics are unparalleled. I went to 11 basketball games this year and Hoops Mania. I loved every minute of it, and I can’t wait for future games. I hope one day I can be like John Ermilio (Nova Hat Guy), attending all of the home games and getting students fired up. Villanova felt like home for me from the first day I stepped on campus for orientation, and it still feels like it months later. In just a few months, I made friends from all over the country I will be friends with for the rest of my life. My favorite Villanova moment to date is when Villanova defeated the number one team in the country, Kansas, at the Wells Fargo Center. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute as a Wildcat!
ESSAY #46
In the short time that I’ve been at Villanova, I’ve found my people. These past few months have been a wild ride and I cannot wait to see what my future here will hold. I knew from the very first time I stepped on campus, it would be my new home, everything seemed right from the energy of the other students to Father Peter’s Candidates’ Day Speech. I trusted myself and made the right choice, my first semester at Villanova I had a few health scares: possible appendicitis, which turned out to be something else, and a mass found in my breast. Even though these scary things happened to me, I found support and comfort in my new-found friends who I now consider family. Villanova has made the biggest impact on my life it could’ve possibly made, no where else would I have been able to form these friendships, have the care and compassion of my professors and the Health Center staff. I truly believe Villanova cares about its students and everyone is a family here, you can see it with the disaster the world is in today, there’s nothing more that anyone wants than to be back at Nova.
ESSAY #47
Even though I’ve only spent half a year at Villanova, it has quickly become my second home. Villanova has shown me opportunities that I firmly believe that I wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else. I am surrounded by people who are kind, giving, loving, supportive, and, most importantly, passionate. I’ve found my people: individuals I love being around, and who brighten each day for me. Being a member of the Villanova community has changed my life forever, and I relish the fact that it’s a place I’ll always be able to call home.
Everyone always talks about the community at Villanova, but there’s no way to fully encapsulate how it feels to be a member of it. I know that whenever I’m struggling, or looking for a helping hand, that I could find it anywhere I look. People are united by similar values and goals, and being surrounded by like-minded people actually helps you grow a lot more than you might expect. Growing in tandem with my classmates, and seeing us all come together in good times and in bad, has been the most amazing blessing, and Villanova has given that to me.
ESSAY #48
Since coming to Villanova, I have become a version of myself that my high school self could only have dreamed of becoming. I have been challenged to expand the way I think about and interact with the world around me; specifically, to think about the structures and constructs in place that privilege some, and oppress others. I owe this growth to the classes I have taken, with professors that taught with such conviction, relatability, and heart, that my mind was lit on fire with passion for social justice. However, what I learned in the classroom was not just left there. Villanova gave me many opportunities to apply my coursework to real life, through co-leading a service experience to Jamaica, and sitting on the board for Villanova Buddies. I am also privileged to be a producer for the international social justice documentary, which focuses on clean water access in Tanzania. Villanova has given me roots deep into a community that spans worldwide; one that I know I can always safely return to should I need it. But, Villanova has also given me wings; wings to take what I have learned and go out to be the changemaker, the disrupter, the leader I have learned to be.
ESSAY #49
My Villanova story started off very different from others, but from what I can tell so far, it has the same happy ending. April 30, 2019, as well as the entire month of April, was a very stressful day for me because I had to choose what school I wanted to attend for the next 4 years. Over the month I had narrowed down my choices to two schools, one of them being Villanova. At three o’clock on April 30th I received a call from my friend who told me she was going to help me decide, so she flipped a coin five times and when that last flip landed on heads, it was decided I was going to be a Villanovan. While I wasn’t really sure if Villanova would be the place for me at first, I am positive of it now. I have met without a doubt best people here and made the best memories, and I’m only a freshman! Within a week of attending this school I knew that I made the right choice. I could not be happier to call myself a Villanovan and I am truly gratefully to have found another home.
ESSAY #50
My experience at Villanova was one that was very challenging socially and academically but through my drive to make connections I was allowed to grow as a villanova student. When I arrived to Villanova, I realized this was a new setting for me and that it would take some adapting to, especially being a black female from the south side of Chicago. I was faced with difficulty with peers who were not used to people who look like me and even struggled in my classes because my lack of ability to ask for help when seeing difficulty in classes. Eventually, I took a step back and analyze what I could do to make better connections but also improve my work ethic in my classes.With the help of my advisor in CLAS and CASA, I was able to reach out to teachers and explain my challenges so that they knew I needed help. I eventually joined a dance club and an organization that helped mentor and tutor inner city and found more friends and people to connect with. Most of these connection led to long friendships and mentors. Villanova has taught me the value of connection and how far they can take you.
ESSAY #51
Up until last week, I had a fairly regular senior experience. With the outbreak of Coronavirus, we had 48 hours: to move off campus, to accept this new reality, and to fit senior spring into 2 nights. I won’t be a person who complains as the world is facing far greater issues, but I can’t help but mourn my last 2 months in the Villanova bubble. I know I will be seeing the lifelong friends I’ve made here again, but I am devastated about my class friends, familiar faces on campus, and the classmates that I’ll never get a chance to know. Except, as I write this from home, I’m surrounded by a community filled with Villanova bumper stickers and people who scream “Go Cats!” when they see Villanova apparel. I’ve learned, perhaps a little too early, that the Villanova community transcends campus; I might not have a senior spring, but I’ll have the rest of my life to enjoy that community. So just maybe, when we make it through this, we can look back and feel grateful that we were forced to learn how to live every day like our last, right as our lives are truly beginning.
ESSAY #52
Senior year of high school was the hardest year of my life. On the outside, I was thriving: a three-sport varsity athlete and a published artist with a perfect GPA. But on the inside? I had never felt so lost. I struggled with anorexia, perfectionism, and anxiety. Academically, I was in over my head, drowning in 7-8 hours of schoolwork every night. Sports became a major stressor. Even AP Art was overwhelming, requiring countless hours of drawing each weekend. But most of all, I struggled with taking care of my six-year-old sister, who was diagnosed with a debilitating genetic disorder the year before. To this day, it is the hardest challenge I have ever faced. However, attending Villanova and seeing the passion for inclusion has been life-changing. Having amazing friends who advocate for those with disabilities and understand my perspective has made me feel comfortable with my family’s situation, giving me the security I need to excel in my endeavors. I never expected the worst and best years of my life to be consecutive, but today, I am the happiest and most confident I’ve ever been. Above all else, Villanova has taught me to always have hope for the future.
ESSAY #53
“Vanilla-Nova”, of all the nicknames I had heard that’s the one that concerned me the most. You see my entire life I lived in a community of people who’s reflections did not match mine. Did I really want to risk another 4 years of my life enduring stereotypes and judgement ?
I loved the coaches that recruited me and I knew the amazing academic opportunities I would have so I said a prayer, kept an open mind and committed to becoming a Wildcat and I’m so thankful I did!
From the moment I met my awesome Orientation leader Kate and all the other freshman in my group I knew I found a place to call home! Never in my life had I felt so much warmth, so much acceptance. Villanova is a true community in every essence of the word. I have made friends spanning the whole country, from different socioeconomic groups and multiple races. My experience thus far has exceedingly surpassed any of my expectations!
I’m proud to call myself a Wildcat and I can say with the utmost confidence it’s anything but “Vanillanova”!
ESSAY #54
Villanova was a school I didn’t know about. Most people come from a Villanova Family, with generations going back having attended. I heard about Villanova my junior year of high school and toured on a whim. I immediately felt a part of the family and fell in love with the community—everything from athletics, to academics, to the sheer beauty of the campus. I truly believe this is place like no other, and it is at home, rather than on campus, that I feel a part of me missing in a way I never would have expected. Every break I have this itch to get back and see my friends, but this is different. This is fear that these people I’ve come to love and care about may be in harm’s way. Villanova has taught me how important being a well rounded person is. It’s more than just getting to know one side of other people. It’s getting to know and care about them on a deeper level.
ESSAY #55
I’m only a freshman and it feels like I’ve lost so much because of the abrupt end of the school year. I would have loved to be able to stay, attending my classes in person, enjoying the weather, seeing my friends, and getting to see March Madness and the Big East Tournament for the first time ever. I’m reminded of how I came into school so unsure of if I was meant to be at Nova, yet leaving with tears in my eyes, feeling so empty, only proved how right my decision was. My experience was one with the highest of highs, and the friends I have made in my time here have allowed me to grow so much and find a family that will support me through anything. I have learned what it means to be involved in a community that will truly always have your back, through every obstacle and wonderful experience. I’ve learned that being a wildcat is truly one of the greatest honors a person will ever have, and that there will always be people, even those you don’t know supporting you. Villanova is truly the most beautiful home and community.
ESSAY #56
Villanova has held such a special place in my heart since the year 2014. It was a no brainer to continue the legacy of my brother, Jalen Brunson when I decided to continue my education. The Villanova community has thousands of students with unique stories, however I feel as though mine is different than most. Coming to campus fall of 2019, I felt a huge weight on my shoulders. Living up to the expectations of my brother, answering numerous questions about him, and the feeling of being in his shadow. Of course, I am not going to receive the many accolades that Jalen once did, but I do intend to leave my mark at Villanova in ways he could not. Although my first year on campus has been cut short, I have learned an enormous amount about myself, and this beautiful community. With these heavy feelings and pressures, it was through the help of faculty and staff that guided me to find myself and know my worth. I have created strong relationships with my professors and faculty that will last a lifetime. These last few months have opened my eyes to a brighter future and to create my own path.
ESSAY #57
While it seems like for most people their college story was love at first sight, for me that was not the case. I loved the school on visits and I always knew I wanted to come here, but after moving in, I immediately had doubts. It felt like everyone around me had formed those everlasting bonds that you hear about in college, while I still felt lost. Finally I opened up to my friends about this and found out that they all felt the same way. Everyone was just doing the best they could to try to acclimate to the crazy changes of college. After learning that I wasn't alone in my feelings, I felt like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I was so much more open and appreciative of Villanova. The love that I felt for the school when I first visited it as a high-schooler returned and I started to embrace all so many opportunities. I joined clubs, got involved in different programs, and began to branch out and meet more people. So while I stated the year with some hesitation, I am so excited to see what the future will hold as a Wildcat.
ESSAY #58
I tutor in an ESL class with a Villanova service group weekly. As a Hispanic South Texas native, I know there are thousands of immigrants in my hometown struggling to assimilate into U.S. culture due to language barriers. I serve as a tutor to tangibly express my appreciation for the education I have received in my lifetime, and to remain mindful of my roots back home.
Taking an active role in helping Latino migrants is one of the most important responsibilities I have undertaken in my 18 years of life. Even though it does not come with a flamboyant leadership title this tutoring position holds a special place in my heart because of the impact it has had on me in seven short months.
As a young person to have the authority of a teacher in the life of an adult is incredibly humbling. However, at the end of the day I am still simply a Nova student with the privilege to learn through the eyes of Rosa, a migrant single-mother and student. Experiences like these that Villanova has brought into my life motivate me to embrace differences and continue to use my knowledge for the betterment of others.
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