This summer, I am fortunate to have Darlington alumna Brisha Askew ('11) shadowing me as she seeks some real-world experience in the field of public relations.
You might remember Brisha as a very motivated, involved Darlington student who was a leader among her peers. In fact, when it came time to produce a video celebrating the success of Darlington's $90 million Second Century Campaign last year, she was one of the first people I contacted to be interviewed. I did so because I knew that she was a merit scholar who had taken full advantage of every aspect of her Darlington experience, and that she is forever grateful to those who made it possible for her to be here.
Not much has changed since Brisha crossed Darlington's Commencement stage and enrolled at Valdosta State. A double major in PR and Spanish, she is still excelling in the classroom while finding the time to be super involved on campus -- ever focused on living life to the fullest and making the most of her time there.
Today was Brisha's day in the office this week, and we had a great conversation about her experiences as a Darlington graduate. We talked about how the school has influenced not only what she has done so far, but how she has done it, who she is as a person, and what she is actually looking to get out of life.
Brisha shared with me a letter that she had written for an assignment in college. The assignment focused on self-awareness and until she was asked to write it, she'd never given much thought to the values that guide her in the way she lives her life, or where they came from. It has always just been who she is and what she does. But as she thought about the assignment, she began to realize that "who she is" and who Darlington helps you to be are one in the same, and that the values expressed in Darlington's Motto -- Wisdom more than Knowledge; Service beyond Self; Honor above Everything -- have been with her since she enrolled at Darlington in middle school.
Read the full text of Brisha's letter below:
At an early age, the importance of three concepts -- wisdom, service and honor -- were instilled in me. Although I would not fully grasp these concepts for some time, I knew that they meant something tremendous. Making the decision to pursue wisdom, service and honor has effectively developed me into the young woman that I am today.
My pursuit of wisdom has been the motivating factor in my striving to obtain two degrees, one in public relations and the other in Spanish. During my matriculation at Valdosta State University, I have been acknowledged for my academic success by receiving recognition on the academic Dean’s List, the merit-based Virginia Anderson Moseman Scholarship, and membership into Valdosta State University’s oldest student honor society, Sigma Alpha Chi.
As a native of Rome, Ga., 300 miles northwest of Valdosta, I feel it my duty to give back to the community that I was raised in as well as the community in which I have chosen to further my education. During my visits home, I like to engage in service opportunities at places such as the Open Door Children’s Home, the Boys & Girls Club, and Lovejoy Baptist Church. While in Valdosta, my leadership abilities have led me to serve in positions on the executive board for both Hopper Hall Council and Sigma Alpha Chi Honor Society. My position on Hall Council allows me to serve by planning in-hall programs to enhance the residential living experience, while my affiliation with Sigma Alpha Chi allows me to coordinate events that emphasize the importance of maintaining academic excellence.
Virtuous and honorable are characteristics that I would use to describe myself. In my opinion, my success depends upon me remaining true to the values that have been instilled in me. Ultimately, I want to be remembered for living honorably and with integrity, for without those all other qualities are ineffective.
Darlington's mission is to empower students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect, and if we look at Brisha as an example, I think we are doing a pretty good job of it. She is a vessel, carrying out and sharing the importance these ideals in her daily life, in her own unique way. And she is not alone.
As we talked today, we began to think about the intricacies and nuances of the Darlington experience as a whole, and how it manifests itself in the lives of our thousands of alumni around the world. The stories are endless and I love to hear them! The connection that our alumni will forever have through their Darlington experience is one that people outside of "Dar World" may never fully grasp -- but it is real and it is powerful.
How has your time at Darlington impacted you? Who were your mentors at Darlington and how have they inspired you? How do your own personal values relate to Darlington's? What about your own Darlington experience has influenced the way you live your life? How did Darlington inspire the path you took when you exited our front gates? We want to hear from you!
Brisha Askew ('11) receives her diploma from then-Headmaster Tom Whitworth.
