Every year, our residents count down the days to a school break, starting to pack and prepare for their travels away from Darlington. As each girl departs for the break, it is very apparent she is excited to have a much-needed vacation not only from her academics but also from her residential family. With each hug goodbye, I can feel the excitement in her anticipation of getting away from campus.
You would think as a Head of House, my favorite days would be departure days. My busy house suddenly grows quiet as well as my cell phone. The truth is my favorite days are when our residential students return to campus after a break. All afternoon and evening I hear shrieks of joy as they reunite with hugs, laughter and tales of their travels. It is amazing how a few days away from your dorm sisters can feel like an eternity. The old adage, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” is certainly true with our residents.
I hope I never grow tired of seeing our first-year girls in Cooper—who were strangers to each other just a few short months ago—so happy to reconnect and share their lives. It is my hope that the first-year house is an opportunity to build a foundation of friendship through shared first-year experiences that will carry them through to graduation and beyond. It is their common experience that creates an uncommon bond.
