I have the pleasure of working with some really fabulous alumni. Fatema (Bandukwala) Salehbhai ('06) is one of them! This is what Fatema had to say when I asked her to tell me why she stays involved with Darlington.
‘An Investment in Darlington is an Investment in Me’
My family and I have lived in Rome, Ga., my whole life. Rome is home to me, and when I think of home I cannot help but think of Darlington. I did not attend Darlington until 2000 when I began 7th grade, but I have known about Darlington for a very long time. I was introduced to the community when my older brother and sister attended and graduated in the 90s, and soon I became an alumna myself in 2006. I felt I was part of a community that I would stay connected to for life, and thus far I am happy to say that feeling was accurate.
My time at Darlington left me with positive experiences and helped me develop leadership and communication skills, and an inclination to do more. Over the years at Darlington, I acquired responsibilities as president of the House Senate, secretary of the Honor Council, and preceptor in the House (dorm) System. And, as a runner, my most memorable position was captain of the cross country and track teams. I left Darlington inspired to be active, honorable and to make a difference.
There is always something exciting going on at the campus or in the Darlington Community. I do not think twice about returning to campus for events, such as Alumni Weekend or the Tiger Pride 5K/10K. At our high school reunion, it felt normal to catch up with old friends and wonderful to see the progress we have made in life. I look forward to events that bring me closer to alumni from all years. There are cohesive relationships between students and faculty, which forms an amazing community feel.
The transition from student to alumna was so natural. I think this is because of the effort Darlington makes in creating everlasting bonds between the school, its current student body and the alumni who came before them.
Outside of Rome, it has been amazing that whenever I travel to new cities I have found ways to connect to alumni in new conditions. When I meet classmates now, the conversation is about our common bonds or Darlington experiences, but also about the future. Alumni look out for other alumni in a most helpful way. I moved to Seattle for the summer with my husband, who is pursuing an internship, and immediately a faculty member from Darlington, Mr. Rick Buice, shared a few contacts in the area. Also, I decided to contact a classmate who was a resident student from Seattle. Although I only knew David for a year, we quickly reunited and the fun times we shared in Seattle with our significant others would not have been possible without the Darlington connection.
I enjoy being a member of the Darlington Alumni Council. Through this association, I am involved in formulating the vision and mission that maintains the values of the community. When I give my time and effort to Darlington, I know I am giving back to a place that has its students in mind. An investment in Darlington is an investment in me. I attribute much of my success to the skills and relationships I gained at Darlington. I feel thankful to have this connection, and know that my learning capacity and network will continue to grow as long as I stay involved with Darlington.
This is part of a blog series written to highlight what it means to be a donor in the Darlington Community and the various ways one can give back to the school. On Aug. 30, the school will host its first-ever Thank a Donor Day to recognize the individuals and businesses whose generous gifts make Darlington the special places that it is.
