"This is Why" - The First of Many & A Special First

I love the first day of school. On the first day, the excitement and hope that surround another school year are abundant. Each child starts the year with a series of new challenges and new opportunities.

The first day is an opportunity for greatness and the start of daily effort to be our best. We saw it here at Darlington as students ran from their cars to enter the building. We saw it here as the seniors asked great questions of our panel of college admissions officers during their “boot camp.”

This first day of school was particularly special because, for me and my family, it was our first at Darlington. It was a day of excitement, hope, and validation as we looked forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead. Reflecting back, I realize that their have been many firsts for me in these early days of my time at Darlington.

I led my first faculty meeting as a head of school.

I participated in Opening Convocation for the first time.

I opened doors in carpool line for the first time.

I introduced myself to many students for the first time.

I threw out my first "first pitch."

I could go on!

Most of these things I will do year after year; they are the first of many. Wednesday, I had the honor of participating in a very special first, and something that happens only once. I was called to the front of Morris Chapel during Upper School assembly to sign the Honor Book.  

As I walked up the aisle, I thought about all of the students and faculty members (many in the room) who had signed the book and pledged to abide by the Honor Code and live a life of "honor above everything." I thought about the students who in 1915 (almost 100 years ago) created our community of trust. After the other new members of the faculty and staff added their signatures, the president of the Honor Council asked the faculty to leave so that all new students could sign the book. What a powerful symbol of ownership this was. Our Honor Code was created by students and it remains a student-led hallmark of this great school. I am proud to have added my signature to the book.

Every day brings new firsts and we must embrace each day with the energy and enthusiasm that we bring to “our first days.”