Bigs & Littles Build Community in the Residential Program

The role of the Residential Event Committee (REC) is to connect the boarding community through weeknight activities and special events. One of the programs within the REC is the Big Little Sisters. This program pairs first-year resident girls, grades 9-12, with returning resident girls who serve as mentor during the school year. Below, our coordinator and assistant coordinator share why they are so excited to be involved in this program.

Tamara Brisibe ('16) - Big Little Sister Coordinator
The best thing about living in the girls' houses is the strong friendships that are formed, and even maintained until outside of our Darlington careers. It is amazing to consider that we all come from different backgrounds, countries, cities, and states and yet we can call someone a best friend or loved one. That there is someone you have come to know on this campus that just makes you feel like home.

My plan for the Big Little Sister Program was to create an environment, based on the big-and-little idea in sororities, where we do several fun activities with girls on and off campus. The activities range from events big and small; however, they all still bring us together to keep the spirit of sisterhood flowing. We want the younger girls to look forward to meeting people they can look up to, while making new students feel at home, and girls that have already been here have something to look forward to. Hopefully, in the future, this sisterhood can develop into something greater, where people in the Darlington Community know of and create a long legacy of sisterhood and friendships that last a lifetime.

Bernadette Ebri ('17) - Big Little Sister Assistant Coordinator
Every time I go home, the number one question that everyone always asks me (other than: Do you like it at Darlington?) is “What’s your favorite part about school?” Every time, my answer is the same, and I hope that it will be the same even when people ask me about my job ten or twenty years from now. 

My favorite part about Darlington is the people. I love how close we are, especially in the residential community. We live together, eat together, fight with each other, and laugh together. The people (students and faculty) are what make Darlington a place that I feel like I can call my second home.

When Mrs. Babb sent out the email asking who would be interested in being on the Residential Events Committee, I looked over all the different areas and Big-Little Sister was the program that I knew I wanted to be a part of. The whole point of the Big-Little Sister program is to give first year girls the opportunity to have an even better year. 

We all know how tough it can be being away from home for the first time (being away from family, friends, and everything you’ve known) and since we all go through it, who better to help you than your peers? One thing that we want to make sure to do is to spark friendships that may have not otherwise formed. I’m really excited to get the Big-Little Sister Program up and running with Tamara and to be working with such an amazing group of girls.

Click here to learn more about the Residential Events Committee and to keep up with all of their upcoming student-led events!