Earlier this year, I returned to Rome for the two-day retreat known as Leadership Darlington. Joining me were fellow "1999'ers" Michael Gordon, Robert Hortman, and Amanda Penn-O’Toole. It was a long two days, but the hours spent learning about all aspects of the school and reconnecting with the place I called home for four years was worth the time.
Before this experience, I would have considered myself a decent alumna. I have great memories of my time at Darlington and will share my experiences with anyone and everyone who inquires. I give to the Annual Fund when I’m able, and I’ve attended two of our three reunions. I even talked about my job to four sessions of students at Career Day this year! But after two intensive days learning about the school from the inside out, I realized that I want to do more.
I often cite my decision to go to Darlington as the single biggest decision of my life. So much of who I am and what I have accomplished can be traced back to that one choice. If not for Darlington, I would not have the lifelong relationships that I cherish, and I would not have the skills and confidence needed to navigate college, work, or other responsibilities of “grown-up” life.
Leadership Darlington shows you the ins and outs, ups and downs, good and bad of running a pk-12 private school that includes a boarding program and various academies from soccer to music. Students, faculty, staff, and leaders of the school are available to answer any and every question you may have—nothing is off limits. After being shown what is behind the curtain, I am committed to reengaging with the school in order to ensure that the place my grandfather, dad, uncle, sister and I all attended is there for future generations.
Though Darlington has changed over the years and will continue to do so, there is so much that is the same. One source of consistency that I find comforting is the sense of community that Darlington creates. When I talk about my time there I don’t talk about the facilities or amenities, I talk about the people I met, know, and love, and the experiences we shared. Meeting alumni from different decades during Leadership Darlington, that seemed to be a common sentiment. It doesn’t matter when you attended, you’re able to connect because of mutual experiences fostered by a faculty and staff that spans generations. I love the fact that Mr. Summerbell taught my father and me, or that Mr. Neville and Mr. Awsumb knew my dad as a kid when he walked the same campus I walked.
One way I wanted to re-engage and be a better alumna, was to share my experience at Leadership Darlington in the hope that it will inspire you to reconnect as well. I won’t ask you to donate, but you can engage in other ways from going to an alumni or admissions event in your area, joining me as a Fairy DarMother (a pending Big-Little Sister program), visiting the campus, or attending Leadership Darlington for yourself.
As a newly-minted member of the Alumni Council, please feel free to reach out to me at hutchwright@gmail.com if you want more information about any events or programs I’ve mentioned.
Editor's Note: Read an alumni profile on Jennie Wright ('99, LD'16) in the summer 2016 issue of Darlington Magazine by clicking here.
