“How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22?” This is a question that followed me into my senior year of college as a Journalism major. Sure, it’s a Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers’ lyric, but it perfectly captures the messy truth of starting adulthood. It also encompasses the story of Rory Gilmore’s so-called “downfall.” The once golden child of Stars Hollow that lost all the answers to life when she started college. For this reason, I decided I’d try to understand her decision making.
Rory was the girl everyone thought had it all together. She loved books, ran on coffee, and had an almost too perfect bond with her mom Lorelai. Her brains, charm, and ability to drop random facts into a conversation were just a few of her many known quirks. She also had a path set out for her that made it seem like she had everything figured out. Her attending Chilton, a private prep school financed by her grandparents, was a privilege most didn’t have access to. From there, the bar kept getting higher: graduation, Ivy League acceptance, future journalist, and so on. Suddenly, her dreams stopped being hers and they became everyone else’s idea of what her “perfect life” should look like.
Fast forward to Rory’s college years, she ended up attending Yale and not Harvard like expected. At first, it felt like the perfect continuation to her storyline. She began working for her school newspaper “The Yale Daily News,” which led to her finding an internship at what she considered her dream job: The Stanford Gazette. However, for the first time, she faced criticism and uncertainty clouded her future. First, one of her articles for the Yale Daily News encountered backlash for the harsh comments she’d made towards a ballerina. Later, she was told by her boyfriend’s dad, Mitchum Huntzberger, that she “didn’t have it” as a journalist. And why is this important, you may ask? Mitchum Huntzberger was the CEO of a major media conglomerate where Rory does her internship. He was also considered a “big shot” in the journalism industry, therefore his criticism towards her performance was considered crucial. Here’s where everything goes downhill because, spoiler alert, she ends up dropping out of Yale. Cue Jess’s legendary, fandom favorite line: “Why did you drop out of Yale?.”
These, along with other catastrophic decisions, are the cause towards the hate this character constantly receives. And while it’s understandable, I couldn’t help but ponder on why. Why this turnout? Was it really a downfall or just her starting to be normal?
Rory was always seen as a perfectionist when it came to her work. This meant being seen as the girl that made no mistakes when it came to life and her decision making (thus, the golden child appeal). Not to mention her insane amount of privilege when getting certain opportunities towards the end of her high-school years. The problem? When everyone believes you can do no wrong, it’s hard to recognize your own mistakes. That’s why Rory’s “breakdown” at Yale can also be seen as the moment she starts to realize she can mess up. A relatable outcome when stepping into adulthood for the first time.
For this sole reason, I can’t see myself completely hating Rory and can understand why she made the decisions she made. Furthermore, I can also find a piece of me in her. When starting my Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, I faced criticism for my academic performance, something I never saw in my high-school years. As a result, I found myself making more of an effort at learning and exploring new things that I maybe wasn’t as acquainted with before. This also meant taking criticism with open arms and finding ways to do better.
Rory’s journey isn’t just about dropping out of Yale, losing her golden girl status and ending up in Stars Hollow again. It’s about what happened when her many expectations collided with reality. Her story reflects how privilege and preparation can open doors, but they don’t shield anyone from doubt, mistakes, or even growth. In the end, Rory’s “downfall” is really the moment she starts to experience how messing up isn’t failure, it’s just part of becoming human. And honestly? That’s a lesson we could all use in our own quarter-life chaos.