Beyond Building: How Girls Hub Creates Lasting Friendships Along with STEAM Skills

Best friends Sydney White and Delilah Washington, Class of 2025 Fearless Builders

When Delilah Washington (age 12) and Sydney White (age 15) signed up for Girls Hub this summer, they expected to learn how to design and build their own chairs. What they didn't expect was to meet a new best friend who made every day at camp more fun.

Girls Hub, Women of Toledo's summer STEAM program for girls ages 12–17, is all about building skills and building confidence, but for Delilah and Sydney, it also built a friendship that neither of them saw coming. Angie Fitzpatrick, our Marketing Engagement Coordinator, sat down with the girls to talk about how a simple snack break turned into a bond that continues long after the sawdust settled.

Connecting Over Common Ground

Sometimes the most meaningful connections start with the smallest moments. For Delilah and Sydney, that moment happened during snack time on their first day. Delilah: We were at snack time, and because we didn't really know anybody, we were just filling in the seats. We were sitting next to each other, and I think we had both, like, had the same chips or something. And I was like, "Oh, are those good?" And she was like, "yeah," and then we just started talking, and that's that.

Sydney: We had a really, like, matching energy.

Delilah: Yeah, we just both were laughing the whole time. It was, like, 30 minutes, and we were just talking, and it was cool.

Angie: Yeah, that is cool. So, you said you had matching energy. What other things do you have in common?

Sydney and Delilah, hanging out at the Girls Hub 2025 Retreat at the Cannaley Treehouse Village in Oak Openings Metropark near Swanton, Ohio.

Sydney: Food, Roblox.

Delilah: Yeah, we play the same games. I think we aren't super-duper similar, but we were

both interested in what the other person had to say, and I think that helped. We both did competitive sports, but different kinds, and so it was just interesting to hear about the other one. So, it's like somebody who got it, but not too much that we couldn't talk.

Sydney: We balance each other out. Like, nothing's too intense or nothing's too dark. Yeah. It's balanced.

Delilah: Like, there was always somebody that you could look to and go and talk to. And I think that's how it began, and then the next day we saw each other, and that's how we started talking. We became more comfortable with each other to the point where we were able to just, like, talk about anything. Sydney?

Sydney: Oh, yeah. I think, like, after the first day, it was kind of just instant. So, the next day and the next day, it was just like, "hey, hi." And then finally towards the end of the week, it was like, "hey, let's get each other's numbers." And then we've just been talking ever since. So, like, we never really broke the bond.

Breaking Down Age Barriers

One of the most remarkable aspects of Delilah and Sydney's friendship is how they've navigated their three-year age difference—something that might have been a barrier in other settings but became a strength at Girls Hub.

Sydney White with her handcrafted chair, representing the grace and beauty of women of color.

Sydney: Honestly, when I first saw her, I thought that she was, like, somewhere close to my age range, but she's 12. Usually, when you think of someone younger than you, you think that they're gonna be immature, but honestly, she really matched the kind of energy that I had, and she had that level of maturity and that understanding as well. So I think that's something that I really appreciate in you.

Delilah: I did appreciate that. In environments that tend to be older, like being in gifted classes with older kids and stuff, a lot of people kind of count you out when you're younger, just because you are younger. So, I think it was also very cool that she gave me a chance and that she let me talk before deciding if I was too different. I think that was helpful too – she's very open.

The Power of an All-Girls Space Like Girls Hub

The environment at Girls Hub played a crucial role in fostering not just this friendship, but an atmosphere where all participants felt comfortable taking risks and being themselves. Both girls reflected on how the all-girls setting made their connection possible.

Delilah: It was very open to be able to talk to somebody. Like, you felt like you could go and walk up to anybody and just say, "Hi" and be able to start a conversation, and there wasn't gonna be any judgment. And so I do think that it being all girls – girls get it. There's more stuff to talk about with a girl because we have similar things going on as girls. And I think it was just also very calm and controlled, and so everybody felt safe and comfortable saying what they were thinking and being able to speak their mind. And I think that helped a lot.

Sydney: Yeah. Everyone was probably shy and nervous when they first got there, so it was kind of just like free rein – meet everyone, make connections, and just go off of that. But I think what started it off was really the whole setting and rules of Girls Hub. So it was honestly like Girls Almighty or Women of Toledo. So it's kind of like, learn from your differences and start off from that and make connections as you go – find each other's aspirations and activities.

Advice for Future Fearless Builders

When asked about how having a friend enhanced their Girls Hub experience, both girls lit up. Their friendship didn't just make the program more enjoyable—it made them more excited to participate and take on new challenges.

Delilah Washington with her handcrafted Girls Hub chair representing the power of music.

Sydney: [Having a friend at Girls Hub] was something to look forward to other than, like, building the chair. I mean, I did know people, but it made me, like, step up a little bit to really be like, hey, this is gonna be really fun. Like, I may wake up early for this, but at least I get to see my friend.

Delilah: I definitely agree with that. It was super fun building a chair – that was still awesome – but there was another thing to be excited about.

For future Girls Hub participants, their advice is simple but powerful: be open, be brave, and don't be afraid to make the first move.

Delilah: Definitely just be open and shoot your shot. Just try to talk to everybody because you never know, you could end up with a good friendship and having somebody to talk to about other stuff. You don't have to like everybody, but definitely be nice to everyone and just try to talk to everybody because it could turn out really well.

Sydney: Yeah, just be open-minded and don't try to clique either. I think that I really went out of my comfort zone. I was like, you know what? I'm gonna try to talk to someone new 'cause I'm a social person. I don't want to be, like, uptight. So I'm just like, you know what? Sure. I'm gonna go for it. You seem fun. Why not? So, just socialize and have fun, 'cause you can meet someone that you can go to the other camps with.

Delilah: Be open to trying new things. Like, doing this made me want to try other things just because it turned out so well. I did get to make a friend, and that was definitely a plus. Learning to make a chair was cool. But now I'm not as scared to try other things. So I would definitely say just be open.

Girls Hub is where young women can explore STEAM, discover their strengths, and connect with others who inspire them. Want to learn more or get involved? Visit www.womenoftoledo.org/girlshub.