Darlington School - Review #11

My experience at Darlington was excellent. I was an only child who was suddenly thrown into an environment where I had 30 brothers with whom I lived with on the floor and a roommate, whom I had never meet before. But turned out to be my roommate for all four years of high school and has been one of my closest friends ever since. You grow up quickly and learn to work with and share your space with others. You learn how to study on your own. The teachers live on the same floor or in the same building or on the campus and you get to know them and their families thus developing a relationship with them that you will not find in the usual high school. With all of the above, you get an education that prepares you for both college and your future life. The school offers you the opportunity to get to know people from other cultures, countries and religions, which gives you a well rounded experience. You have the chance to work with local organizations who address some of the needs of society that many high schoolers have never have seen before in their lives. Darlington's campus is a beautiful setting and gives the student an opportunity to really grow and develope.

The opportunity to develop my leadership skills and build great confidence in my ability to do what ever one wants to do in life. And added plus was to get to know my roommate who became one of my closest friends and remains so today some 30 plus years later even though we live hours apart.

I wouldn't change a thing. The one piece of advise I would give some one going there today, would be to get to know your faculty and resident advisors as soon as possible and get involved in everything and study hard. Be open to your new life. Enjoy yourself.

The students and faculty.

No, it has been too long since I was there and lots has changed, but if they still offer a "toasted notice" at the school store, have one for me. It was a honey bun, toasted with butter melted on top of it.

The best about the academics were the coach classes and the close relationship with the faculty, who want to see you succeed.

Athletics are open to the true athletes and the novices as well and every one finds their level of activity.

Drama was the area that I really enjoyed. I worked on the sets and lights and still remember to this day when we put on a Charlie Brown play and how we did the cartoon strips and worked the spot lights. It was an experience.

I worked with Maple Street which was a program for the underpriviledged kids and it was an experience that was very rewarding.

Dorm life was great as you got to know your classmates so very well and developed life long friendships and you learned how to live with others, sharing both the best of high school and the worst.

Dinning was cafeteria stlye food, but there was plenty and the variety was good. The staff couldn't have been nicer.

Rome, GA is a small town and so you got to know it very well and you became friends with the Day Students and learned more about the local culture. We traveled to Atlanta for big events or professional sports events as well.

Social life was active as the school with a number of dances and other activities. My fondest memories were actually the after the dance, when the Dance Committee came back to the gym and took down all the decorations and cleaned up, while someone went to the local fast food resturant and brought back tons of burgers and fries and drinks.