A Darlington student is made up of many things. None of which is average. We help our students develop their interests, passions and pursuits, because we believe every individual has something to contribute. We also believe that only when you're 100% you, are you 100% Darlington.
Here at Darlington, every student’s path is different. We think that's a good thing.
Let’s get to know Adrienne Woods, a four-year day student from Cedartown, Ga., who will be attending the University of West Georgia this fall to pursue her dream of being a nurse anesthetist.
When you think of Darlington, what three words come to mind first?
When I think of Darlington, the first three words that come to mind are growth, leadership, and independence. Starting with the word “growth”, I feel as though Darlington has been a place that has pushed me to grow as a student, athlete, teammate, and person. It’s thrown me many hard situations and challenged me in ways that have pushed me to learn how to navigate difficult times, and has also helped grow me into a confident and caring leader . I think of the word “leadership” when I think of Darlington because of how many leadership opportunities there are at Darlington, which encourages confidence and decision-making skills. I have seen these enhanced qualities in myself and I’m so grateful for Darlington for helping me thrive with these opportunities, helping me gain skills that will be useful for future endeavors. I think of the word “independence” when I think of Darlington because the school gives students the independence that they will experience in college. This independence helps students learn how to be smart with their time, giving them the opportunity to optimize their free periods and other periods during school days to get help from teachers and study/do homework.
What song reminds you of high school?
A song that reminds me of high school is “Vienna” by Billy Joel. It reminds me of high school because it really captures the urge that I and many other students have to succeed and move on in life, kind of trying to fast forward through this era of our lives. But the song reminds us that we’re still young, and it’s okay not to grow up so fast. It tells us to slow down and enjoy the times we are in, which are some of the best years of our life. It goes by faster than you’d expect, so just be present in the moment and everything will play out the way it’s meant to.
What's your favorite show to binge watch?
My favorite show to binge watch currently is “Lie to Me” on Hulu. I actually learned about this show through my AP Psychology teacher, Mr. Allen, who introduced the show to us during one of our units where it related to the topic we were on. It’s about a doctor who is able to determine if people are lying to him based on micro-expressions on their face, and he helps solve crimes and other issues with his team of expression analysts.
What's your favorite restaurant in Rome?
My favorite restaurant in Rome is definitely Olive Garden. I go there nearly every birthday because I love Italian food.
What house are you a member of?
I am a part of Cooper House. I am a day student!
What are you involved in?
I am involved with all of the cheer teams that are offered at Darlington, including Football Sideline Cheer (where I served as a captain my senior year and have participated for all four years), Basketball Cheer (where I’ve served as a captain my junior and senior years and have participated for three years), and Gameday Competition Cheer (where I’ve served as a captain my senior year and have participated for three years). I am also involved with Darlington’s Girls Soccer team, and I am now a captain. I have been on the Girls Varsity soccer team for all four years of high school.
If you play sports, who is your favorite coach and why?
My favorite coach I have ever had has been Melissa Smyly. She is my favorite coach because she’s always had faith in me and pushed me to be the best cheerleader I can be. Coming to Darlington as a freshman and trying out alone in the Spring of 2022 was terrifying for me, but she helped make me feel welcome and confident that I would enjoy my time as a Darlington cheerleader. Since then, she has always been a support beam for me and knowing that she was always in my corner truly helped me build so much confidence. My sophomore year I was struggling a lot mentally with cheer and school, and she was one of the only people who could really see that I was struggling. She checked on me and would check with my mom to ensure I was okay, which truly meant the world to me. Her support and faith in me is what really pushed me to seek out leadership in my team, she helped make me feel confident in my abilities and leadership skills which overall helped me lead the best team I could in my senior year of high school. I also admire the way she coaches the team, she wants the best of ALL of us, and teaches us discipline and accountability. She does everything in her power to make sure we thrive as athletes, students, and teammates.
What's your favorite place on campus and why?
My favorite place on campus by far has to be the Chapel. Although I don’t spend time there other than on assembly and Chapel days, I admire the architecture and beauty of the building. It is by far, in my opinion, the most beautiful building on campus.
Who's your favorite teacher and why?
My favorite teachers at Darlington are Dr. Hintermaier and Mr. Cox. I have not had Dr. Hintermaier for a class during my time at Darlington, but he has been my advisor for the past three years. He is someone I can confide in and talk to whenever. Almost everyday, I spend time in his classroom during office hours - doing work, and having conversations with him while doing so. He reminds me a lot of myself, we are both very humorous people and can agree on a lot of things. He is my mentor and one of the people I know I can always trust. My other favorite teacher at Darlington is Mr. Cox. I’ve had Mr. Cox’s class both my freshman and senior year. He is my favorite because he is a very funny teacher and has a natural talent for storytelling. He makes me want to engage in conversation in the classroom, because he goes deep into the units we are talking about and makes us think. He is an amazing teacher and I have really enjoyed my time being in his classroom.
What’s your favorite thing about Darlington?
My favorite thing about Darlington is the many people I’ve met. I have met so many amazing people throughout my time at Darlington who have made lasting impacts on my life. From dorm friends from other countries, to my fellow Day student upperclassmen, to my sweet underclassmen friends. They have all made my experience at Darlington an amazing one.
Describe an experience that you've had at Darlington that you couldn't have had anywhere else.
An experience I’ve had at Darlington that I couldn’t have had anywhere else is definitely Rumpus. Rumpus is so unique and I feel no other school could replicate such an event that brings so much bonding between students from all over the world. It is such a spirited weekend of fun, support, encouragement, and community.
What are some of the ways you've grown since you first came to Darlington?
Some ways I have grown since I first came to Darlington has been in my confidence, my academic skills, and my athletic abilities. The growth in my confidence has helped me be better at public speaking/presenting and leading sporting teams. My growth in academic skills has been through the faculty who have pushed me to be a better student, which has prepared me for higher education. My growth in my athletic abilities has also contributed to my confidence, but also to my health, happiness, and contribution to my teams.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to be a Nurse Anesthetist. I am going to be majoring in Nursing at UWG to pursue this dream.
If you have already committed to a college, please let us know which one you will be attending.
I have committed to the University of West Georgia for the Fall of 2026, and will be enrolled at GNTC this summer to get my CNA licensure by July.
Click here to see more #SeniorSpotlights from the Class of 2026!
Find out how you can be 100% Darlington, too, by requesting a personal campus tour at www.darlingtonschool.org/visit or contacting admission@darlingtonschool.org.
