How Leadership Darlington Reinforced My Desire to Serve

The 14 years I spent attending Darlington were an experience that absolutely shaped and transformed my life. The opportunities, the friendships, the athletics and academics are unmatched. It was a unique experience, one that most of my friends (not associated with Darlington) can never quite understand.

It wasn’t until I went to college that I really started to appreciate what my time at Darlington had provided me. As a student, I was involved in many different facets of the school and held various leadership positions.

Recently, Leadership Darlington provided me with an outlet to learn how to be involved as an alumna. It was an amazing learning experience and, again, transformed my life. To see Darlington through different eyes brought me an even stronger appreciation for the school, faculty and students. In a room full of alumni from across the country and spanning generations, we all had a strong connection to one another as we shared in the memories of our time at Darlington. The networking and friendships that were made amongst the participants was wonderful.

Throughout the weekend we learned the ins and outs of the business side of the school, the future vision, and the development of Darlington from the buildings, curriculum, athletics and fine arts opportunities. We were presented the challenges and opportunities Darlington is facing—but, more importantly, what steps we—as alumni—could take to help. With everything that has changed, one thing remains the same; the commitment to excellence. It was apparent from the faculty to the students.

The theme of the weekend was “What can I do for Darlington?” The Darlington motto itself instills in each student “Service Beyond Self” and the value of community service. The message resonated with me and is also practical in connecting with my community and reconnecting with Darlington. I am energized to take a more active role in alumni relations and serve Darlington—whether it’s monetarily, with my time, by spreading the word or supporting activities.

As a student, I took Darlington for granted. As an alumna, I took it for granted; but now as a Leadership Darlington alumna—after seeing what it takes—I recognize how fortunate I am. I proudly display my Leadership Darlington plaque to serve as a reminder and to show my pride. It is truly an honor to be a Darlington graduate.

Leadership Darlington is a prestigious and competitive opportunity for Darlington alumni to engage with their alma mater and school leaders on an in-depth, personal level. The program is designed to increase the number of alumni actively engaged with the school and to develop the next generation of Darlington's leadership.