NewsAlumniAdvancementCollege Guidance
Alumni cross paths again in grad school
Feb 13, 2006 11:53 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
People always say best friends stick together, and no one understands that better than Darlington alumni Neely Davis (’97), Valerie Woods (’98) and Faith Drennon (’97). Years after their high school graduation, the three girls are classmates again, and will all graduate from the Medical College of Georgia School of Dentistry in May.
Woods and Davis attended Darlington together in Middle School and became close friends through cheerleading and weekend trips to Lake Weiss with their families. When Drennon enrolled as a sophomore, the three immediately bonded.
Following their graduation in 1997, Davis and Drennon went their separate ways for college, attending Vanderbilt and the University of Georgia, respectively. One year later, Woods joined Drennon in Athens. According to Drennon, the girls were all surprised to learn of one another’s choice for graduate school.
“After Neely spent a summer living with me in Athens, we began tossing around the idea of medical or dental school,” she said. “We lost touch for a while, and I decided to apply to dental school. I was pleased to discover we had chosen the same path.”
Even more surprised was Woods. “We didn’t keep in touch very well during college, so I wasn’t up-to-date on what Neely and Faith were doing,” she said. “I had no idea that they both wanted to go, and didn’t even find out until the December before dental school was to start.”
The three agreed that having these friendships at this stage in their life has been an encouragement for all of them, and that getting settled in a new place was only made easier with the help of their fellow Darlington alumni.
“It’s exciting to combine the connections I made at Darlington with the current connections I am making in life today,” said Davis. “The networking capabilities are endless.”
Woods said it is easy to reflect on her years at Darlington and see the positive impact it has had on her college career. “Darlington kids stick together over the years and are like family,” she said. “We always seem to end up back in each other’s lives no matter how far away we are at times. It seems like just yesterday we all were hanging out in Trippeer parking lot.”
In addition to the excitement of graduation, Woods and Davis will have another milestone to celebrate together in June when they are bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. From there, Davis plans to explore job opportunities in North Carolina and Colorado, and Woods will move to Macon to practice dentistry with her husband. Drennon plans to work as an associate dentist in the Southeast for a year before buying a practice of her own.
Wherever their futures may take them, Davis, Drennon and Woods know that their school experiences – whether high school or college – and their friendships will not be forgotten.
“I will never have friends that compare to the people I knew at Darlington,” said Woods. “We all share a special bond.”
Woods and Davis attended Darlington together in Middle School and became close friends through cheerleading and weekend trips to Lake Weiss with their families. When Drennon enrolled as a sophomore, the three immediately bonded.
Following their graduation in 1997, Davis and Drennon went their separate ways for college, attending Vanderbilt and the University of Georgia, respectively. One year later, Woods joined Drennon in Athens. According to Drennon, the girls were all surprised to learn of one another’s choice for graduate school.
“After Neely spent a summer living with me in Athens, we began tossing around the idea of medical or dental school,” she said. “We lost touch for a while, and I decided to apply to dental school. I was pleased to discover we had chosen the same path.”
Even more surprised was Woods. “We didn’t keep in touch very well during college, so I wasn’t up-to-date on what Neely and Faith were doing,” she said. “I had no idea that they both wanted to go, and didn’t even find out until the December before dental school was to start.”
The three agreed that having these friendships at this stage in their life has been an encouragement for all of them, and that getting settled in a new place was only made easier with the help of their fellow Darlington alumni.
“It’s exciting to combine the connections I made at Darlington with the current connections I am making in life today,” said Davis. “The networking capabilities are endless.”
Woods said it is easy to reflect on her years at Darlington and see the positive impact it has had on her college career. “Darlington kids stick together over the years and are like family,” she said. “We always seem to end up back in each other’s lives no matter how far away we are at times. It seems like just yesterday we all were hanging out in Trippeer parking lot.”
In addition to the excitement of graduation, Woods and Davis will have another milestone to celebrate together in June when they are bridesmaids in each other’s weddings. From there, Davis plans to explore job opportunities in North Carolina and Colorado, and Woods will move to Macon to practice dentistry with her husband. Drennon plans to work as an associate dentist in the Southeast for a year before buying a practice of her own.
Wherever their futures may take them, Davis, Drennon and Woods know that their school experiences – whether high school or college – and their friendships will not be forgotten.
“I will never have friends that compare to the people I knew at Darlington,” said Woods. “We all share a special bond.”
