After having taken AP art history in high school, visiting the Parthenon was a dream come true. Seeing the remains of a culture I spent so much time learning about was a truly special experience. Our tour guide, Stavros explained that the Parthenon was a temple dedicated to Athena and that the Greeks considered her their patron. At that moment, I immediately thought of Bryn Mawr and our patron Athena. For those that don’t know, Athena is the patron Goddess of Bryn Mawr. We have a large statue in one of the academic buildings, Thomas Great Hall, where students make offerings to the Goddess for wisdom and strength during finals, other stressful times of the year, or for help with personal issues. Standing at the Parthenon made me realize just how special my school is and how much history has been incorporated into our traditions and values.

It’s amazing that the ancient practice of making offerings to Gods and Goddesses has been incorporated into Bryn Mawr. Just as the Greek people offered Korai, marble statues of young women and vases to Athena to thank her, members of the Bryn Mawr community offer anything from jewelry to textbooks to ask for strength in difficult times. It is fitting that Athena was chosen as the patron Goddess of Bryn Mawr, as it is a place for women to come together to prosper and to be empowered, to be given the strength and wisdom to succeed. This past year, I have seen how these values have been incorporated in the classroom, during traditions and how they have helped to foster a sense of community. My trip to Athens made me more aware of the huge influence Athena has had on the Greek people and more importantly on the Bryn Mawr community as a whole. I hope to keep these values in mind this year and not hesitate to ask Athena for help if I need it.