The Unexpected Gift of Attending a Women’s College

While others woke up to balloons and cake, my birthday celebrations required me to get up and thank my mother. So when my father told me to thank my mother after my daughter Tatiana Galli ’19, M.A.T. ’20, was admitted to Smith College, I had to suppress an eye roll! 

I thought my Smith love story began when my mother informed me I was applying to Smith College early decision. There was the campus visit and interview, and that was that! I got in and became a Smithie. Many years later, after all the college tours, my first daughter made her own decision to apply early to Smith. We were thrilled when she was accepted. I heeded my father’s words and went to thank my mother. By then, she was debilitated by a stroke and a mere shell of the dragon lady she once was. I shared the news, and I thanked her. 

I then asked her why she wanted me to study at Smith College. It was only then I learned that while at Ewha Womans University in post-war Seoul, South Korea, she had an instructor who had studied at Smith. My mother was a young teenager when she went to college, and this Smith woman left quite an impression on her. My mother promised herself that if she ever got to America and if she ever had a daughter, her daughter would study at Smith College. And so the dream came true. 

I now thank her for two things when my birthday comes around: the gift of life and the gift of Smith College.

This is just one of the many love stories we've received in conjunction with Smith's 150th. Submit your own using our love story submission form.