BY DIANA OH ‘24
As the summer approaches after a long academic year at St. Marks, many students and faculty members are becoming very, very excited about their forthcoming summer vacation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and further aggravated by the absence of spring break, this year has arguably been one of the the hardest year for everyone to get through. This makes this summer vacation crucial for all of the St. Mark’s community to refresh and relax in order for us to strive towards another hardworking and successful year. So, how are students spending their summer vacation, and what will they be doing?
1. Going back home
With 75% of boarding students on campus and many faculty and staff members living alongside the students, St. Mark’s has a huge sense of community that comes with its boarding tradition. However, because of the pandemic, many boarding students have either chosen to be day students or become completely remote, which decreases the number of boarders living on campus. With fewer people on campus and fewer visits back home, many students have been living on campus for over four months, starting from back in January. Now, going back home is a big deal. As an international freshman boarder at St. Mark’s, staying on campus, and not being able to travel anywhere was difficult to press through. Now that the summer vacation has come, many of my international friends and I will be going back to our homes, reuniting with our families which we have not been able to see for months.
2. Academics Review & Individual Sports Practice
Although summer vacation is a time for getting some rest and catching up with sleep, it is also a time when students can develop the most independently. Especially for many upperclassmen, vacations may be the best time to review academic material beforehand as they are completely unaffected by schoolwork or athletics. For example, one of my sophomore friends told me that over the summer, he was going to be learning US history and chemistry before the next year, so he could have a better understanding of the topic before he takes the classes. Since the pandemic also limits people’s ability to spend more time outside, travel, or go on vacation, reviewing tests such as the SAT and AP subject tests, with enough rest and hobbies, is what many students are planning to do this summer. Furthermore, next academic year, more aspects of school life will hopefully be back to normal, which makes athletics a major part of school life again. In preparation for this change, some students are also doing individual sports practice back home. Even though many sports require physical contact which violates COVID rules, some sports such as tennis, or golf can be done even with social distancing.
Golf vs. Milton 4.28.21
Adam Richins Photos (https://stmarkslions.smugmug.com/Athletics-at-St-Marks/Golf/2021/i-9NW6tPf/A)
3. Summer Camps
Another pastime that multiple people have told me they are participating in this summer is summer camp. Whether it may be community service or research camps, many students will be spending their time interacting and socializing with people outside of campus and making new relationships. This year many of the camps will be hosted on zoom due to the restrictions of COVID which will make it a completely different experience than under normal circumstances. Regardless, the memories and the insight that comes from summer camps are valuable experiences in which the students of St. Mark’s are looking forward to having.
4. Food
The most important and exciting factor that comes to mind when we think of summer vacation is food. Especially for boarding students who have been limited to almost only school food each day, vacation is a time to meet our family and also eat good food. I, for example, really miss Korean food. Four months without Korean food left me craving for any Asian food. Many of my friends and I are going to enjoy all the options we have back at home for the entirety of summer vacation.
3 - 9 p.m.
Adam Richins Photography (https://stmarkslions.smugmug.com/Photo-Tour-of-SM/Our-Facilities/i-7rZB4Sd).