The ninth question I will tackle in my 10-part Prospective Boarding School Parent FAQ blog series touches on what we all want for our children as we consider educational options:
"I want my child to fit in and be happy at school. How will he or she find a niche at Darlington? What unique opportunities are there?"
As a boarding student here in the 1990s, I enjoyed playing several sports but found my home in leadership positions. I served as a Tour Guide (now Tiger Expert), Resident Assistant (now Prefect), a SOAR member (now Advancement Ambassador), and a member of the Honor Council.
Today, there are even more academic and extracurricular opportunities for Darlington students to explore! JV and varsity athletics, sports academies, fine arts, student leadership, clubs, service opportunities .... the list goes on and on. In fact, one of our students recently told me, “You'll always find a place here, no matter what your interests are.”
In a small school community like Darlington -- where you are surrounded by loving adults and motivated peers -- it’s easy to take risks and try new things. Inevitably, every student will find his or her niche and make a lasting impression on the Darlington campus.
Below, six mothers of current or recently graduated boarding students share the parent perspective:
"Our son is very happy at Darlington. He has had the opportunity to make friends from a wide range of backgrounds. His classes are small enough so that he can get to know other students on a personal level, but large enough to make the experience unique. Darlington offers a large variety of sports and fine arts activities to meet a student's variety of interests. As a parent of a boarding student, I have been very impressed with the quantity and quality of planned activities for students on the weekends. I thought that our son was busy before attending Darlington, but he now has more fun than ever before!" - Pam Doig of Gainesville, Ga., mother of Ben ('19)
"Darlington has something for everyone. Our daughter played softball in middle school and was anxious to join the team at Darlington, but she also now plays lacrosse and she had never played before. She has good friends who dance off campus with many girls from the school. Darlington has a place for students interested in drama, music, orchestra, visual art, student government, Honor Council and Christian life. Students are very welcoming into clubs and organizations, and the faculty seeks out and encourages students to become involved and take on leadership roles." - Merritt Fields of Cordele, Ga., mother of Aisling ('18)
"The after-school activities offer the students a wide range of opportunities to participate in sports or art programs of their choice. You don’t have to be perfect to be accepted; everyone is welcome to try out new activities. There are also many leadership opportunities." - Sheila Ebri of Brunswick, Ga., mother of Bernadette ('17)
"There are plenty of unique opportunities for Darlington students to plug in! Darlington has strong athletics, as well as wonderful arts programs. Within both of those there are opportunities beyond being an athlete or a singer or artist or musician. There are also community service opportunities available. Choosing a club or clubs to participate in is also an option as Darlington has no shortage of those on campus. Developing leadership skills while being a dorm prefect, an admission liaison or dorm IT manager are a few other ways to get involved in the Darlington Community." - Elizabeth Bou of Marietta, Ga., mother of Madelyn ('18)
"Darlington offers a plethora of opportunities for any child. There are sports, music and drama facilities to rival any school, so there is ALWAYS something to do and somebody to do it with." - Paula Bacardi of Nassau, Bahamas, mother of Alex ('18) and Ted ('19)
"There is athletics, fine arts, numerous amounts of clubs, and sports academies that are a higher level than playing sports for the school. Darlington really has a way of getting students involved socially and through their volunteer hours as well. Their head of house and the student dorm leaders keep a watchful eye to make sure your child is feeling welcomed and accepted by others. They go above and beyond to have activities for students to be involved and to get involved." - Danielle Wheeler of Fayetteville, N.C., mother of Griffin ('17) and Smith ('19)
For more information about Darlington School's boarding program, feel free to contact me anytime or you can also request a campus visit by clicking here.
