The Summer I Turned Into a Good Girl

A love letter to Black women and girls becoming, unbecoming, and becoming again through education, evolution, and self-love.

This summer wasn’t just about sunshine and soft life.
It was about transformation. Quiet, radical, sometimes messy, but always sacred. It was the summer of shifting perspectives, of choosing softness, of letting go of who she thought she had to be and leaning into who she’s becoming.

It was the summer of rooftop brunches with friends who feel like soulmates.
Of iced matcha lattes and deep conversations about purpose, healing, and what it means to be a Black woman in a world that constantly asks her to shrink. It was the summer of laughter that echoed louder than her doubts, and silence that finally felt like peace.

It was the summer of walking away—from relationships, majors, jobs, and mindsets that no longer served her.
The summer of starting over, even when it felt scary.
The summer of realizing that she doesn’t owe anyone the same version of herself forever.

For Black women and girls, change is often met with resistance.. from the world, from family, sometimes even from within. However, this summer, something shifted. She gave herself permission to evolve. To want more. To want less. To say no. To say yes. To say “I don’t know yet.”

Some fell in love. Some fell out of it.
Some started new jobs, while others quit without a backup plan.
Some enrolled in classes, applied for scholarships, joined study groups, or finally asked for help.
Some moved to new cities, while others returned home to heal.
Some cut their hair, changed their major, launched a business, or simply rested for the first time in years.

And through it all, she realized: being a “Good Girl” isn’t about perfection.
It’s about alignment. It’s about choosing herself, even when it’s hard. It’s about redefining what “good” means, and on her own terms.

She learned that education isn’t just academic—it’s emotional.

It’s learning how to say “I need help.”
It’s learning how to speak up in rooms that weren’t built for her voice.
It’s learning how to build community, how to ask better questions, how to dream bigger.
It’s learning how to be soft in a world that demands she be hard.
It’s learning how to be still in a culture that glorifies hustle.

She learned that she’s allowed to change.
Black girls are allowed to pivot.
To reimagine.
To start over.
To want softness after years of survival.
To want structure after seasons of chaos.
To want more—or less—and not have to explain why.

She learned that growth doesn’t have to be loud.
That healing doesn’t have to be public.
That becoming isn’t always beautiful—but it’s always worth it.

This is a love letter to the Black girls who are still figuring it out.
To the ones who are tired of being strong but still show up.
To the ones who are building new versions of themselves from scratch.
To the ones who are choosing healing, even when it’s inconvenient.
To the ones who are choosing education—not just for a career, but for confidence, community, and clarity.

As the last quarter of the year approaches, she’s walking into it with clarity.
Not because everything makes sense, but because she’s finally listening to herself. She’s honoring her boundaries, her joy, her softness, her ambition. She’s learning that she doesn’t have to be everything to everyone. She just has to be true to herself.

And if she’s still unsure? That’s okay.
Because becoming a Good Girl isn’t a destination—it’s a journey.
And she’s already on her way.

September Spotlight: Promoting Higher Education for Black Women

This month, The Good Girl Movement is proud to launch a campaign dedicated to uplifting Black women and girls in higher education. Whether she’s a first-year student navigating campus life, a senior preparing for post-grad transitions, or a working professional returning to school, her journey matters.

We’re highlighting stories of resilience, ambition, and self-discovery.
We’re sharing resources, hosting conversations, and creating space for Black women to feel seen, supported, and celebrated in academic and professional spaces.

Because education isn’t just about books, it’s about becoming— and every Black girl deserves the freedom to learn, grow, and evolve on her own terms.

Are you a Black woman in college or the workforce?

We want to hear your story. Share your journey, your wins, your pivots, and your lessons with us. DM us, tag us, or email us to be featured in our September series.

Know a campus or organization that’s doing the work?
Nominate them for a spotlight. Let’s amplify the spaces that are pouring into Black women.

Join the conversation.
Follow @TheGoodGirlMovement on Instagram and TikTok, and use the hashtag #GoodGirlsGraduate to connect with others navigating this season of growth.

This fall, we’re not just turning into Good Girls, we’re turning into scholars, leaders, and legacy-makers.