In case you haven't heard, the Villanova University Wildcat's have just won the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship. Campus was electric. Between the fires and the people on street lights, it's safe to say the student body celebrated. Alumni, parents, faculty, and friends have all joined the students in rejoicing and expressing their love for Jay Wright and the Cats.
Let's take it back to 2015. Villanova had only won a single NCAA Basketball Championship, in 1985, but the iconic Villanova pride was just as strong, the Nova Nation is extensive and thriving. Where I'm from, everyone either knows someone or is related to someone who went to Villanova. Every Villanovan I have ever met loves talking about their time at Nova: the friends they made, the zilly fries, sitting by the Oreo on a nice day, and only wearing navy blue.
One of the best examples of the Nova Nation is random public encounters. The summer before my freshman year I was in JFK flying home from visiting family. I was wearing a Villanova t-shirt. All of the sudden a girl came running up to me and excitedly asked if I was a student. I told her that I would be in the fall. I have never seen someone's face light up that quickly. She promptly told me how much I was going to love it, and she gave me helpful tips for move-in day. Before we parted ways she game me a big hug and said "Welcome to the family". I swear I almost cried in the middle of the terminal.
This perfectly demonstrates how much love there is within the Nova Nation. Of course since the start of basketball season every time I wear a Nova shirt in public someone calls out "Go Cat's!" or some other sign of support. But again, the pride and support does not start and end with basketball. It's no secret that Nova alum love to hire other Villanovans. The amount of opportunities I have been presented with because of my connection to Villanova is unbelievable. Villanovans are always ready to help one another out in whatever way the can.
The other key aspect of the Nova Nation is the sense of family. The community is unlike any I've ever seen. People are supportive, caring, thoughtful, and compassionate. I'm not saying we're perfect, people have conflicting opinions and sometimes people get into it, but at the end of the day we're all Villanovans, and that tops everything else.
So while the rest of the country is praising the Cat's for their startling ability to make 3's, I'll be walking around campus saying hi to friends, admiring the iconic church skyline, and thanking God everyday that I am a part of the Villanova family.
