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VanderFamily
Hard Work Pays Off:
The Meaders
If you were to visit VanderCook on any given day,
chances are you would run into a pint-sized student
with a larger-than-life personality named DarLa
Meaders. What you would not see is a supportive
family intent on making sure their daughter
realizes her dreams.
DarLa Meaders is the daughter of Darrin and Lisa
Meaders, the big sister of DarLynn, and the little sister
of Darrin II and DarLisa. A graduate of Morgan Park
High School in Chicago, DarLa started her freshman
year at VanderCook in 2010 and now finds herself
looking to the end of her third semester at the college.
It’s obvious that Darrin and Lisa are very proud of
DarLa and what she’s accomplished thus far, and
they’re involved in every part of that success. College
faculty and staff aren’t surprised to see her mother,
Lisa, stopping by the school to attend a meeting with
DarLa, and it would be uncommon to attend a concert
and not see the Meaders family occupying part of a
row of chairs towards the front of the room.
Says DarLa’s mom, “As a child, DarLa was pretty much
like she is now – very bubbly and determined. She
always brought joy and laughter into a room with her
smiles and playfulness.” But, with that playfulness
comes determination. Tell DarLa she can’t do something
and she’ll set out to prove you wrong.
“My family means a lot to me,” says DarLa. “They support
me and help me push through my good and bad
days, especially my parents. Their support motivates
me and gives me the drive and determination to show
everything I’ve learned and can do.”
The Meaders first noticed DarLa’s musical talent when
she joined the church choir at age five. They recall
that when she sang her first solo, people were up on
their feet clapping and singing along. The more they
clapped and sang along, the more DarLa performed.
Elementary and middle school found DarLa active in
choir practices, dance rehearsals, singing lessons, Girl
Scouts, bowling, Double Dutch team, band, and dance
and singing competitions. “DarLa didn’t want to pass
anything up, she wanted to do it all,” says Lisa. When
DarLa hit High School, she added Girls Chorus and the
After School Matters Program to her list of activities.
A common question for parents with a musical child
is, “Where do they get their musical abilities from?”
18 www.vandercook.edu