At Stanford, anything is possible

“At Stanford, there’s an unspoken rule: anything is possible,” says Lily Loughridge, ’25. “No idea is too big, no challenge too ambitious. If you say you want to start a company, build something new, or change the world, people don’t doubt you—they help.”

Loughridge, a senior majoring in symbolic systems, describes the culture at Stanford as fast-moving and full of ideas. As one of the four co-founders and current President of Stanford Women in Tech Entrepreneurship (SWITE), a student organization dedicated to unifying and uplifting aspiring female founders and investors, and as the President of the Stanford Real Estate Club (SREC), which encourages undergraduates to explore careers in real estate, Lily asserts that her involvement in student groups has been one of the most rewarding parts of her Stanford experience.

With SWITE, Lily works with a team of similarly driven and dedicated women who push the club’s mission forward, helping underclassmen to break into industries that have historically lacked women’s representation. The Women’s Community Center has been a cornerstone for SWITE activities, and alumni have been an essential part of the community, acting as mentors, advisors, and guest speakers. Undoubtedly, the generosity of Stanford Fund donors, who support initiatives like Stanford’s nine community centers and student groups, has been integral to the group's success. 

Crediting the energy and encouragement she has received on campus to push her forward, Lily is  grateful to be part of a community where the default answer is always, “Go for it.”