Last week, the College Guidance Office called a meeting for the seniors, but it wasn’t about college specifically. This meeting was called for reasons that make Darlington a special place of education that is not just academics. We are a college-prep school like many others, but one of the things that makes us special is a meeting such as this.
Darlington has high expectations for students, and seniors in particular. Seniors are expected to lead by their good behavior and responsible actions. When they graduate from Darlington, the end goal is not just college admission; the end goal is a person who has the life skills to succeed beyond just grades, and the character that withstands adversity.
Here are some of the specific skills and expectations outlined in last week’s meeting:
1. Speak and act respectfully to people senior to you, whether it is a teacher, administrator or your (future) boss. Many teens are not comfortable speaking directly to adults. At Darlington, students are strongly encouraged to be comfortable with politely advocating for themselves to adults. This means if they have questions or concerns, to go to a teacher or staff for help. This is a skill they must have in college because it is necessary that students can speak for themselves appropriately as a young adult.
2. Act with manners and respect at all times. This is expected of all Darlington students but seniors should be leaders in this regard. Taking care of our campus/environment is part of acting with respect. This ranges from clearing the tables after lunch to keeping backpacks organized and off the hall floors. Another name for this is executive function, but regardless of the label, being responsible for one’s possessions and living spaces is a basic skill that seniors best have mastered before college.
3. Check email several times a day. This is a necessary self-management task for all students, but seniors in particular. They not only get important emails from school, but colleges as well. Management of technology requires self-discipline, maturity and good judgment. Not being distracted by looking at social media during class is a tough challenge for many students, and the downfall of many. Any college environment is full of distractions; management and appropriate use of technology is a major step toward success in college and life.
4. Express gratitude. A handwritten letter, such as a thank you note, is still an important gesture and, sadly, many young people don’t know how to do it (some aren’t even sure how to properly address an envelope). This is a small example of making good connections with people and representing oneself well. This small act shows thoughtfulness, appreciation, responsibility and respect. Handwritten notes can make a person stand out in a good way; it is part of being professional and respectable. All of our seniors were asked to write thank you notes to the college admission officers who visited our College Fair in September. Don’t you think this would make our seniors stand out among their peers? You bet it does, because very few students do it!
Our seniors were told repeatedly at the meeting last week that the teachers and staff at Darlington really care about them, and with that caring comes high expectations. Manners, courtesy, respect and responsibility are the attributes expected from all Darlington students, but especially seniors. Nowhere in the school motto or mission statement does it say “Get good grades; that is all we care about.” Of course, we care very much about academics, but there is more to success and happiness in life than grades.
Everyone who works at Darlington cares about each student as a person and wants him or her to be the best they can be, in all that they do, and all that they are, as a person. This is what sets Darlington apart from other college-prep schools; it is what makes Darlington special. When a Darlington diploma is given, we want to say, “We are proud to send you off into the world!
