This past weekend, many Loyola students embarked on their journey via car, train, or plane back to their hometowns. This fall break (or “Midsemester Holiday”) provides a quick reset for students after the stress of midterms, and a reunion with beds, showers, family, and pets. I had been looking forward to this weekend immensely, especially since, as a freshman, this was my first time being away from home for an extended amount of time. While I missed my house and my friends, I especially missed the comfort and love that a family brings, and I missed my parents.
I have always been very close to my family, and I struggled with leaving them during the first couple of weeks of school. I also consider myself incredibly blessed to have a very strong and close relationship with my dad, who is one of the greatest people ever. My dad is the epitome of the “Girl-Dad” trend on social media, and it has been interesting navigating college without him by my side constantly.
When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time with my dad, a product of being the oldest child and needing constant chauffeuring to dance and other activities. Throughout all these encounters, my dad and I would talk. These conversations were about anything and everything, ranging from Harry Potter, Greek mythology, current events, clothing wish lists, and new restaurants. These chats with my dad highlighted both a timeline of my interests and the support that I required at different moments of my life.
I had never fully coined a term to describe this love until my TikTok algorithm showcased the “Girl-Dad” trend to me. My dad and many others are absolute stereotypes of this trend, and their personality and love have allowed for confidence and growth in many lives. The social media trend highlights the personal growth that comes from conversations about interests and our dads’ earnest attempts to relate and connect. While the trend depicts qualities that I have always seen in my dad, it also gave me an appreciation for the changing culture regarding masculinity, which highlights itself through the community of caring fathers who love and respect their daughters and their unique personalities and interests.
In general, I am very appreciative of girl dads, particularly mine, because they allow their daughters to be confident in their passions and stay true to their identity even if others degrade it. In my life, my dad is the pillar of support who always encourages me to try new things, fail, and reach for my dreams. So, thank you, social media, for acknowledging all the “Girl Dads”, and a special shout-out to my dad, who is the best of them all.