1. At orientation, be sure to get familiar with not only the teachers you will be having, but also where their classrooms are, because it can get a little confusing on the first day. (It can feel like there are a thousand things to worry about on the first day, so why not eliminate this one if you can?) Take advantage of the opportunity that orientation gives you to ask questions about things you aren’t sure about or are worried about.

2. Freshman year is the best year to take a fine art [if you are only planning on taking one for one year] because it can be hard to squeeze it in later when you are looking for more ‘open doors’ in your schedule for classes.

3. Going to coach class (office hours) in the mornings is always a good idea, especially for history classes. You should always try to go because it can help you a lot as it reinforces what you learn and for me, I have been able to understand concepts and events I’m learning a lot more clearly in coach class. Even going and listening and participating in a discussion about the matter always helps.

4. As far as applying for certain leadership opportunities, if you think you may be interested, it is always a good idea to go ahead and apply. It can never hurt and it can be hard to get some of these positions, so do not take it for granted that you will get into something, and because of that, not apply somewhere else. Leadership positions are very important.

5. Always start to prepare for exams well ahead of time. Even if your most intense studying is done the weekend [sometimes even night] before the exam, staying aware, starting to organize/putting things together, and making overall/broad study guides that you can look over about 2 or 3 weeks before can really give you an edge.

6. Whether you are a day student or a residential student, always take part in dorm activies when you can, because they are A LOT of fun! Also, taking pride in your house, having spirit, and good sportsmanship are all very important, especially when it is the time of the year for RUMPUS. During this fun school event, many fun moments are shared, memories are made, and new friendships can also be formed. This is a very important aspect of school life at Darlington, so it’s great to stay involved.

7. At the end of each chapter, unit, or book in a class find time (maybe during the weekend) to jot down the main points/ideas from it on a piece of paper and keep those papers in a separate pile. It doesn’t have to be a long, detailed set of notes, but it is a good idea because come exam time, this can really help cut down on stress and I promise that you will be very glad that you did. Sometimes doing this before a test can also be a helpful time so you can reinforce the material for the test [and be helped during exams.]

8. It is a good idea to have an idea/plan of how you will complete your volunteer hours. (15 hours required each year) Whether this is through a church trip, a local organization, a school event, or anything else, it is very, very helpful to know how you will be completing the hours.

9. Be sure to try new things. Not to sound cliché, but you really can get a lot out of pushing yourself to try new things. If you’re really into sports, maybe try something in fine arts or something else, and vice versa. Maybe try joining a team/club of a subject you’re passionate about. It can never hurt trying, even if you find that you don’t particularly like it…you can’t know until you try!

10. Never be afraid to reach out to a teacher, no matter what. Even if they need to help you, talk to you, or anything else during a different time, they will always be willing to. I found myself nervous of some teachers at the beginning of the year, but towards the end, I was a lot more comfortable and found myself talking more to teachers that I also didn’t have in the classroom, but got to work with during other times. Getting to know teachers is really nice, helpful, and important!