
Three women in different stages of relationships will be addressing female students about friendship, singleness, and dating at a Curate-sponsored event this Saturday, Nov. 13, at 10 a.m. in the Mauck Solarium.
The event, called “The Seasons of Relationships,” will last until 11:30 a.m. Coffee, chai, bagels, and pastries from Penny’s will be offered.
“The focus of this event is relationships– the different types of relationships you have while in college, how those relationships change, and how to approach some of these changes,” said Ashlyn Neveau, director of student programs at Hillsdale and co-founder of Curate.
A panel of three women, Dean of Women Rebecca Dell, Jenny Pridgeon, an admissions counselor at the college, and Hadiah Ritchey, project manager for Career Services, will discuss relationship stages, followed by a Q&A hosted by senior Vika Nunez. Neveau said she and Dell came up with the idea for Curate over lattes at Rough Draft.
“Curate started a couple of years ago as a way of organically connecting female mentors in the community with our college women,” Neveau said.
She said it seeks to connect young female students with female adult role models, providing genuine conversation, support, community, development, and perspective.
Neveau said enabling college women to hear from older women about healthy relationships fits with Curate’s mission.
“Relationships make up a huge part of our lives, and these speakers each have wise things to say about something so important to us as women,” Neveau said. “It’s so easy to idolize other stages of life and relationships, but there’s a better way to live. These women have walked through friendship, singleness, and dating as Hillsdale students, and this event is a great opportunity to ask your honest questions.”
Sophomore Julianna Undseth said she is excited to attend the event. She said she enjoyed the speakers at the 2021 Curate Summit.
“It kind of felt like I was drinking from a firehose,” she said. “But it was really refreshing because you’re inundated with the truth and reminded of relationships, community, and the fellowship of being with women who want to honor and follow God.”
Hillsdale Residence Life Coordinator Rachel Marinko said opportunities for college students to talk about relationships are valuable.
“I would encourage girls to come because I know these women have such great things to say about relationships,” Marinko said.
Sophomore Ingrid Dornbier said Curate events provide time for cultivation and encouragement.
“There is something about joining a community of women who only want to see you grow into the best version of yourself you can be that is truly life-changing,” Dornbier said. “Do yourself a favor and attend. You’ll be better because of it.”