If you know Darrah Holmes, you know she’s the kind of person who lights up every room she enters. As one of her close friends, I can say that’s not just a cliché. Darrah, a senior at Dowling Catholic, has spent her high school years building connections, growing in her faith, and leading by example both on and off the field.
When you ask Darrah about her favorite memories at Dowling, she’s quick to mention the friendships she’s made and the countless Friday nights spent cheering under the stadium lights. Coming from a smaller school, Darrah loved the chance to branch out and form new bonds with people from all over. “Meeting new people and building relationships with my friends and my faith has been so special,” she says. And as a cheerleader, those fall football games weren’t just about the sport, they were about the laughs, the team spirit, and the memories made with her teammates.
Darrah’s journey into cheer started with her love of dance and a desire to get involved. “I loved how welcoming the cheer team was from the beginning,” she recalls. The support and encouragement she felt from her teammates became a foundation for her high school experience. She didn’t just hone her skills on the sidelines, she built lifelong friendships and learned lessons that will carry her into the future.
When it comes to influences, Darrah is quick to credit her parents for their unwavering support, her coaches for teaching her to work hard and lead by example, and maybe most thoughtfully, her recognition that younger students look up to her. She strives to be a role model, knowing that her actions set an example for the next generation of Dowling students.
For Darrah, being part of Dowling’s community is something special. “The Dowling Catholic community goes beyond the walls of the high school,” she says, noting the support from alumni and families, and the kindness shown by everyone she meets. As a cheerleader, she’s seen firsthand how every student can make a positive impact and how faith remains the center of it all.
Game days are full of traditions for Darrah and her team, mass in the chapel with the football team before every game, followed by team dinners where laughter and excitement set the tone for the night ahead. These moments aren’t just routines; they’re cherished memories that help her focus, connect, and remember what’s most important.
Outside of cheer, Darrah loves spending time with friends and family, doing service projects, taking walks, and painting pottery. She’s proud of her academic achievements, making the Presidential Honor Roll every semester, and even prouder of the personal growth she’s experienced. “I’ve been told people look up to me or that I’m a good leader and friend,” she shares. “That always reminds me to keep trying to be a better person.”
As graduation approaches, Darrah plans to head to college to study pharmacy or sports medicine (she’s still deciding where). Her advice to underclassmen? “Don’t be scared to talk to new people! Be yourself and you’ll find your group. Get involved, focus on your schoolwork, try your best, and have fun.”
Darrah Holmes is a true example of what it means to be a Dowling Catholic leader: faithful, kind, and always ready to lift up those around her. It’s been a privilege to walk these halls with her, and I can’t wait to see all the good she brings to the world next.
