This year celebrates the third year of the annual First Dinner, an event the night of homecoming where all freshmen dine together at the Coosa Country Club before the dance. While it is not required, all freshman are advised to join. This dinner helps connect all the freshmen, whether new to Darlington or not, to the school and each other by taking photos and dining before heading to the dance. Sophomore Vivian Kearns and junior Brent Bell share their personal experiences at the First Dinner.

“I think it was different for boarders than day students because, as a boarder, it was more of a bonding experience since we rode the bus there and we really got to connect with each other,” Kearns said. “Whereas day students came on their own and left on their own.”

Bell shares his perspective as a day student at the First Dinner.

“Freshmen Dinner is the first dinner before homecoming. Where all the freshmen get together, eat together, take pictures together and are all in one place,” Bell said. “My perspective as a day student is that it was a great opportunity for me to talk to everyone, take pictures and socialize with people that I might not socialize with on a normal, day-to-day basis.”