6 Reasons I Wish I’d Attended Darlington

I graduated with high honors from a great local public school that shall go unnamed. I had good friends who were motivated to be successful in school. I had some good teachers, some really great ones and a handful of superheroes. I discovered my passion for writing and journalism. I graduated seventh in my class of over 300 and earned a full ride to college. I also earned a couple of AP credits. So by all accounts, it was a positive experience for me.

But it could have been better.

For the past 11-and-a-half years, I've had the good fortune to work here at Darlington School. And for the past 11-and-a-half years, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how my high school experience would have been different had I been a student here.

1. I would have been challenged. And not just the "you now have three hours of homework every night, which will be challenging for you to find the time to complete"-type of challenge. You see, high school was pretty easy for me. Sure, I studied. But most of the time, I knew exactly what to study (or memorize) in order to do well.

I was part of what was then called the "College Prep Advanced" track and I took a few AP classes my junior and senior years. But I was more concerned with succeeding than challenging myself. I actually didn't take the AP Exam in two of my classes because I wasn't sure I would score 3 or higher. (After advising me to take it, to no avail, my AP English teacher gave me a previous version of the AP test as my final exam ... which I scored well on. Lesson learned.)

Come to think of it, I can't really pinpoint a time that I felt truly pushed, "uncomfortable" (in a good way), or that I learned to "appreciate the process" as a result of a failure. At Darlington, these themes are critical to every student's learning experience. Here, you will be pushed. You will be questioned and encouraged to ask questions. You will be challenged to reach higher. And you just might fail, but it won't be the end of the world because you will know that failures are important lessons that inspire future successes.

2. I would have left high school with a global perspective. Now, I was not born in the United States; I'm actually a Canadian-born dual citizen. We moved here when I was 10 and by that age, I'd already lived in three different Canadian provinces and one U.S. state besides Georgia. I'd also had the good fortune of traveling in The Philippines, Africa and Europe. However, I would say that I did not graduate from high school with a true global perspective. I did not even graduate from college with one.

I never had the opportunity to live and/or learn with students from all over the country and the world -- to explore similarities and differences, to learn about other cultures in an authentic way, to build lifelong relationships and make real connections to the world outside of Rome, Ga. But here at Darlington, I would have. The diversity on this campus is one of our most special attributes because it allows for incredible relationship building and unique life lessons. It is also one of the main things I hear Upper School students, in particular, say that they value most about their Darlington experience. It broadens their world view and that is priceless.

3. I would have had a different kind of relationship with my teachers. Now as I mentioned, I had some great teachers in high school. Really great. Incredible actually. My experience in Greg Spoon's classes inspired my career path. Mary Holcomb made AP Calculus seem easy (and this is coming from someone who only took the class in hopes of exempting out of my one college-level math requirement, which I did!) Chris Hodges made me realize that talents can be learned. But, in most cases, our interactions ended with the last bell of the school day. And don't get me wrong, this is absolutely NORMAL... but not at Darlington. 

Here, your relationship with your teachers, coaches and other mentors does not end at 3:30 p.m. or after practice or rehearsal. As a boarding school, Darlington is a residential community, so there is -- by design -- a totally different level of support and connection with teachers. More than 40% of our faculty and staff members live right here on campus. Not only are they accessible, but they're actively involved with students beyond the school day. They're in the dorms, they're hosting dinners at their homes, they're available during study hall, they're participating in weekend activities, they're competing in RUMPUS (Darlington's annual "House Olympics"), they're raising their children here, and more. They're invested in the school at a whole other level and they're committed to helping each and every student have a positive experience here at Darlington.

In high school, I felt like my teachers cared about their students and wanted them to succeed. Here, I feel like my teachers would've not only cared but really known me, which inspires a deeper connection and level of support. This is something our students notice, appreciate and take with them as they move into the next phases of their lives. I met with alumnus Brett Henson ('07) during a recent professional development trip to Boston, and he shared that he still talks to History Department Chairman Craig Schmidt at least once a month. For Darlington, this is NORMAL.

4. I would have stepped outside my comfort zone more frequently. In my extracurricular world (much like in academics), I liked doing things that felt comfortable and/or at which I knew I could succeed. We had a club period every couple of weeks, so I joined Interact Club mainly because Mrs. Holcomb was the adviser. I was also in French Club. When I didn't have a club to go to during club period, I went to the journalism room. This was definitely my passion and I'm incredibly grateful for the relationships I built and the experiences I had as a result of the program. 

So basically, in high school my thought process went like this: If I was good at something or had a positive experience with a teacher, I was comfortable getting involved in other related ways. However, as you get older you come to realize that you will experience more growth and learn more about yourself when it happens the other way around. If you branch out and get involved, you might just discover a new passion or talent and have an unexpectedly positive experience with new people. 

One thing that stands out about Darlington is the constant encouragement from teachers and even your peers to get involved and try new things. I interviewed Ching Ching Zhao ('15) for a video last spring and I loved what she had to say. "It is really cool how here I can grow into a well-rounded person," she said. "And when I fail trying new things, no one's going to laugh at you. Everyone around you is encouraging you to do better next time. And with this courage and these opportunities, I was able to grow much more mature and be prepared for my future life."

5. I would have had more support during the college process. My high school had one college adviser for my entire senior class, so this one is a no-brainer. My parents and I were sort of "flying blind." I considered a few colleges (without doing a formal visit to any of them) and ultimately applied to two private liberal arts institutions, both in state. I was accepted by both and chose the one that gave me the most financial assistance. On my own, I found and applied for several additional scholarships to supplement my academic scholarship, my journalism scholarship and the HOPE funds I would be receiving. I was awarded grants ranging from $100 to a couple of thousand and, eventually, was able to cover the cost of my tuition.

Here at Darlington, the college guidance process is immensely different. You are still driving it but there are also three full-time staff members in the College Guidance Office and 13 experienced college advisers to help you. Students self-select an adviser from this list of trained professionals and receive an incredible amount of support along the way. Between parent presentations, class meetings, College Boot Camp and a College Fair that attracts 180 admission reps each year, Darlington does a great job exposing you to different options and helping you navigate what can be an overwhelming process. But most importantly, the college staff makes it their mission to help you find the right fit.

6. I would have found the joy of servant leadership much earlier in my life. Sure, I had participated in community service projects here and there, mostly through my church youth group. I knew that giving back to the community could be a meaningful experience, but I didn't really have an expressed commitment to service on a personal level until I became part of the Darlington Community. Here, service and integrity have been cornerstones of everyday life since the school’s founding in 1905. “Service Beyond Self” is integrated into purposeful programming at every grade level as well as the overall culture of the school. I will be forever grateful to Darlington for the service opportunities I've been fortunate enough to have during my time here. My work in the community has been extremely fulfilling to me on a personal level, helping me to grow as an individual and as a leader. 

I share this blog post with you not to express regret because I did not go to Darlington. Like I said, I had a super-positive high school experience. I was a motivated student surrounded by like-minded friends. I learned from some amazing teachers. I did well in the things I chose to pursue. I found my passion. I went on to a great college. I am working in a field I love, with a job I love, at a place I love. I literally could not ask for more! 

But just as much as I appreciate the path that brought me here, I can clearly see the differences between the experience I had and what you get at Darlington School. While college may be the ultimate goal in both instances, you are certainly going to be a different person when you get there if you've gone to Darlington.