Prospective Boarding Parent FAQ #3: 'How Do Most Kids Feel About Going to Darlington?'

The third question I will tackle in my 10-part Prospective Boarding School Parent FAQ blog series is another common question we get in the Admission Office: 

"I am worried my child will think boarding school is a punishment. How do most kids feel about going to Darlington?"

I could talk all day about how amazing my own personal Darlington boarding experience was and how it made me the person I am today, but no one can tell the story better than our current students.
 
I recently spent some time with a group of female boarders in the lounge of our first-year girls' house, Cooper House. Here are just a few of the things they said: 

"You'll always find a place here no matter what your interests are."

"I love being able to meet girls all from over the world and being able to live with them." 

"You find friends for a lifetime."

"You cry when you arrive and cry when you leave."

"[Darlington] is like having a couch all over the world."

"You become more well rounded and involved in new interesting things."

"It's a much better high school experience than going somewhere else."

Below, six mothers of current or recently graduated boarding students share the parent perspective:

"Our son actually approached us about becoming a boarding student at Darlington. One afternoon, he received some information about Darlington in the mail. He read about the school and then did a little research online. About two days later, he approached us and said, 'This is where I’m going to school next year.' At first, we didn't take him very seriously, but within a few months he had made his dream a reality. Ever since our son was accepted to Darlington, we have asked him repeatedly if he would like to come home and begin high school with his friends. His response is always the same: 'No, I love it here.'Recently, I asked him what was his favorite thing about Darlington. He thought for a moment and said, “It’s the atmosphere.” He said that he likes everything about the school, but the atmosphere is something that you can feel all around you on campus. - Pam Doig of Gainesville, Ga., mother of Ben ('19) 
 
"Every girl that I have been around in the dorms loves Darlington. They all wanted to go to boarding school and some even led the search despite their parents protests. I have not met one student who is at Darlington that doesn't want to be. Also, the application and interview process can be quite involved, if a child did not want to be at the school it would be apparent in interviews and campus visits. Again, Darlington doesn't seem to want students who don't want to be there, they want students who will participate and appreciate all that the school offers." - Merritt Fields of Cordele, Ga., mother of Aisling ('18)
 
"The general population seems to be genuinely excited about coming to Darlington. If your child does have 'cold feet' about boarding school, I would suggest an overnight visit. This is a great way for your child to get a “behind-the-scenes” look where they can meet current students and get their honest opinions and testimonials on nearly everything." - Sheila Ebri of Brunswick, Ga., mother of Bernadette ('17)
 
"Darlington is an elite college-prep program. The students that attend Darlington have chosen to be there. The teachers that teach at Darlington love to teach. They enjoy small class sizes and are not be required to teach 'to the test,' which creates a different learning environment where the students are able to better engage in their learning. Discipline in the classroom is rarely an issue, which results in the teacher being able to effectively teach their subjects. Darlington students create lifelong friends, they learn to be responsible to and for themselves, and feel a great sense of community in the boarding environment. Darlington students are stretched and challenged with the amount of academic work while still being able to participate in the many offerings of arts/sports and activities that Darlington has. - Elizabeth Bou of Marietta, Ga., mother of Madelyn ('18)
 
"I have two children at Darlington and they were both excited to attend. I suppose this concept of boarding as 'punishment' depends on how the idea is presented to the child. If they feel that a parent is trying to 'get rid of them' then yes, they will see it as punishment. But if it’s presented in a way that they understand that the enrichment benefits they will receive while there far outweigh anything they could provide for them at home and that they will be in a safe home-like environment then initial apprehension aside, they should be fine. - Paula Bacardi of Nassau, Bahamas, mother of Alex ('18) and Ted ('19)
 
"Darlington is an opportunity for your child to shine. Your child is surrounded by quality students, faculty, administrators, and with support services that seem to have no end. You will definitely feel the warmth of Darlington when you visit." - Danielle Wheeler of Fayetteville, N.C., mother of Griffin ('17) and Smith ('19)