We are excited to highlight young alumni who embody the Darlington mission and motto through a series of Darlington Connects blogs. Today, we feature Young Alumni Council member Elijah McKoy ('17), an orthopedic sales representative who graduated from Furman University in 2021. We hope you enjoy getting to know these young alums who have chosen to "learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect."
Were you a day or dorm student, and what are some of your favorite memories from your time at Darlington?
I was a day student, and some of my favorite memories are the rumpus basketball games, winning the region championship in football, track meets, and advisee periods with Mrs. Ellis.
Where has life taken you since graduation?
Since graduating, I have played football at Furman, and now I’m an orthopedic sales rep for Arthrex.
What is your current role, and what does a typical day look like for you?
My typical day involves early days in the OR. I spend the entire day advising surgeons on how to use my products.
What experiences or influences led you to where you are today?
Having knee surgery in college and learning about this injury from my brother-in-law, who was the rep in my surgery, led me to this career.
What inspires you most about the work you do?
The fact that I get to contribute to bettering people’s lives and getting them back to where they physically want to be is the most inspiring thing for me in my job.
What challenges have you faced, and how have they shaped your growth?
Learning anatomy without studying science in college was one of the toughest things in this job, and adjusting to life without being an athlete after 18 consecutive years of football was tough.
What recent accomplishment or moment are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of being named Rookie of the Year for my job; it just showed that the work I put in when I got hired was noticed.
How did Darlington prepare you for the person you’ve become?
Darlington prepared me most by teaching me to always hold myself to a higher standard. I always felt like as a Darlington student the standard was higher.
How do you live out Darlington’s mission to learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect?
My job requires me to act with all three every single day. Being in the OR requires you to respect every staff member, regardless of title or incline, and have integrity with your billing practices. Also, the days are long and grueling, so you have to have passion for what you do.
What advice would you give to your younger self at Darlington?
Make more dorm connections. I have many friends that were dorm students from such cool places, but I wish I would have made more.
What guidance would you share with current students or young alumni following in your paw prints?
Take full advantage of all the connections that Darlington can offer. The Darlington network is so strong and can help so much down the line.
What’s something fun or unexpected that most people don’t know about you?
I am a huge history nerd and love WW2 history!
How can current students and alumni connect with or support you in your journey?
I’m always open to connecting with Darlington students via LinkedIn! Or even instagram @emckoy_
If you could go back in time and relive one moment from your time at Darlington, what would it be and why?
I would relive the RUMPUS basketball game. That was probably the best game I had in my life, and to do it on RUMPUS night in front of such a great crowd was a memory I’ll never forget.
