Everyone loves to hate on Rory Gilmore, but we forget that at one point in our lives (or maybe more) we were probably just like her, too. Sure, she’s had her fair share of bad judgment and rash decisions, but Rory Gilmore is and always will be my favorite fictional character.Â
In a way, I’ve grown up with Rory. Her journey in the series starts with getting accepted at a nearby preparatory school, and when I started the show, I was in the exact same stage of my life. It was the summer before I started high school, and I just got accepted into the academic magnet school in my neighborhood. This meant that I would have to leave all my friends, the sports teams I had been practicing with all summer, and mentally prepare to attend a notoriously rigorous and competitive school. Needless to say, I was distraught. But I knew it had to happen, especially if I wanted to strengthen my chances of getting into a good college. Sound familiar?Â
My aunt was the one who got my sister and me into Gilmore Girls. And if I had a nickel for every time she introduced me to a piece of pop culture that has had a lasting impact on who I am, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s cool that’s happened twice, right? (The other series being Harry Potter, which eventually led to me falling love with reading and becoming an English major, but that’s a story for a different time.) Needless to say, my aunt has heavily shaped my personality and interests, on top of just always being there to guide me through life and giving advice and being one of my best friends. So when she said to watch Gilmore Girls that summer, I did it without question.Â
Little did I know, Rory Gilmore and I would become soul sisters for life. Watching her hesitate about going to Chilton, but still taking the opportunity in stride and making the best out of the situation made it easier to make the same decision. By working hard and persevering through the craziest circumstances, she proved to everyone that she deserved her spot there. She inspired me to do the same. “What would Rory Gilmore do?” was a thought that constantly went through my head during my freshman year when I was struggling with my advanced classes and making friends. And at every step, every significant moment in my high school career, I would think of Rory experiencing those same moments in the show. Like when she joined the school newspaper, and I joined the yearbook staff. Or when she was freaking out about not having enough extracurriculars for her college application. And especially, transitioning from high school to college.Â
Moving from SoCal to the Bay Area was a really difficult experience during my freshman year. I had terrible homesickness, my anxiety reached its peak, and I felt really alone. And even though it’s so insignificant in the grand scheme of things, I would remember how Rory asked her mother, Lorelai, to stay with her the first night in her dorm. It reminded me that it’s okay to struggle, need time to adjust to big changes in your life, and to ask for help.Â
Moreover, Rory is my academic inspiration, obviously. And as an English major, I can only hope to be as well read as her. Whenever midterms and finals come around, I always try to channel the Rory Gilmore academic weapon energy to get through it. Not to mention, her whole aesthetic is unmatched. She rules fall fashion, and I’m guilty of owning the iconic Rory Gilmore sweater that I might’ve spent a little too much money on. Gilmore Girls being my favorite show and moving to the Bay where I can actually experience the seasons changing has made fall my favorite season, and I always make sure to do an annual rewatch during that time of the year.Â
And, yeah, let’s talk about it. Why did you drop out of Yale, Rory? Why? Well, I think we can all agree that her whole ordeal with Mitchum Huntzberger, stealing the boat, and going to live with her grandparents weren’t her best moments. She definitely proved him right about not having what it takes to be a good journalist, but despite her lapse in judgment, I still find positive things to take away from that period of her life. Who hasn’t felt unsure or insecure about their career aspirations? Sure, it was a dramatic reaction, but I know that everyone in college has doubted their abilities to go after their dreams at least once. In spite of it all, after she finally got some sense knocked into her, she went back to Yale more committed than ever and managed to graduate on time.
As a graduating senior facing my last couple weeks of college, I’m thinking about Rory Gilmore more than ever. I walked every step with her from high school to college. I’ve looked to her for guidance and comfort during this entire eight-year journey, but Rory and I are about to reach this final step together. Gilmore Girls ended when Rory graduated and was off to start her professional career, and that’s where I find myself now. Where do I go from here? Rory’s always been right by my side, but now it feels like we’re parting ways. I won’t be able to watch the show to see Rory go through similar life events and navigate the rest of her 20s. I have to figure it all out on my own, and it’s a little scary. But I hope that the lessons I’ve learned from Rory Gilmore will stick with me for the rest of my life.