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'Mamma Mia!: Here We Go Again': 5 Lessons College Women Can Learn from Donna

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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is now out in theaters, and seeing Donna (Meryl Streep) and Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) come to life on the screen again for the first time in 10 years is absolutely heartwarming. The story of Amanda Seyfried’s Sophie trying to navigate adulthood nearly 40 years after young Donna (Lily James) did the same, makes for tons of character parallels and reminds us of what strong, beautiful women our mothers are.

Donna, in particular, is one of those characters that will stand the test of time and continue to be beloved by viewers—just like Streep’s original portrayal of Donna created its place in our hearts. As the leader of the Dynamos, the object of affection of Sam, Bill and Harry, and the wise, caring mother of Sophie, Donna has more than a few life lessons we college women can take with us as we start the next chapters in our lives. Here are just a few of the things we can learn from Donna.

 

 

1. The best things in life are spontaneous

We first meet young Donna as she’s asked to give the valedictorian address at her graduation (which is already quite the achievement). But instead of giving a rehearsed, vague speech about looking forward to what comes next, Donna breaks out into song with her best friends Tanya and Rosie, aka power girl group the Dynamos. It’s impossible to watch them sing and dance to ABBA’s “When I Kissed the Teacher” and not break out into a huge smile. These are the kinds of memories we all want to have, but sometimes we can only get them by living in the moment and remembering to have fun, instead of spending so much time worrying about the future.

2. Sometimes you have to follow your gut

Donna thinks her destiny is in Greece. She isn’t exactly sure why, besides her inexplicable attraction to the island of Kalokairi, but she decides to take the jump and head there anyway. Her friends don’t understand it and even hint at the fact that they think she should come back, but Donna’s ambition and decision to take her own path is so admirable. Plus, if she never stayed in Kalokairi, we would never get the story of the original Mamma Mia!. So the next time you find yourself debating over whether or not to do that thing you’ve been dreaming about, just ask yourself: What would Donna do?

3. You’re stronger than you think

Sophie says that when Donna found out she was pregnant, she had no one. But even if she was alone in her journey to becoming a mother, Donna decided to commit to her daughter and stayed on the island to raise her. It must have been terrifying to go through that without the support of the baby’s father, let alone an entire family or group of friends. But Donna was able to do it, and her dedication and love turned Sophie into the happy, loving woman she is today. So no matter what your struggle may be, you’re more than capable of coming out the other side a stronger, better person.

4. No matter where you are, you can always find a friend

Donna was great at making friends: she met each of the three men in her life in such unusual circumstances, but was able to turn each of those situations into an unforgettable relationship. Beyond romance, though, Donna found people who cared about her on the small island that everyone else wrote off, like bar owner Lazaros and his mother, who helps Donna through labor. So even when you feel like you’re going through something completely alone, there are always people who are willing to help you—like Sam helped Donna calm down a horse during a thunderstorm and Bill gave Donna a ride to Kalokairi. Kindness above everything else will get you far.

5. Be yourself and you will be loved

Ultimately, Donna is a beloved character because she was always unabashedly herself. Otherwise, Sophie wouldn’t look up to her so much, and Rosie and Tanya wouldn’t follow her lead like they always have. Her genuine attitude makes her likable to almost everyone she meets, and only people as talented and wonderful as Streep and James could’ve played her. The only way to secure a legacy like the one Donna has is to be the most authentic version of yourself, and you’ll find that all the other things in your life will start to work themselves out, whether that applies to love, friendship or your dreams.


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