Anouk Shin ‘26 and Seoyeon Kim ‘26
The annual St. Mark’s School’s Orientation for new students takes about three days to complete. Everyone on campus is busy- moving, socializing, and settling into the school year. But what do the protagonists of orientation - the new students- think of the experience?
Although the never-ending icebreaker games seemed cheesy at first, we as new students actually enjoyed these community-building opportunities to reach out to other students and potentially make new friends. “...During orientation, I met a lot of new people that I wouldn’t have met if we didn’t do all those games because they’re not in my everyday classes,” says Emma Schillinger, an incoming III Former. Both of us, the authors, also enjoyed the “get-to-know-you”s, as it gave us a taste of who we would be spending our years with.
During orientation, the new St. Markers were engaged in various activities: Choose Your Own Adventure, chapel services, athletic practices, international student desserts, cookouts, and more.
When we asked our interviewees, many replied that their favorite was ‘‘Choose Your Own Adventure’’. Newcomers were given an opportunity to interact with the student leaders and explore their interests- whether it be cage ball, ultimate frisbee, board games, cloister ball, or yoga. Another III Former in the orientation, Ryan Kim, especially “loved the CYOA yoga class,” as he was able to completely detach and relax in preparation for the new academic year.
‘‘Detaching’’ reminds us of our school’s chapel services. On the evening of the first day of orientation, the new students joined their first chapel service. The event was unforgettable. We were first mesmerized by the prestigious architecture and the history of the Belmont Chapel and the experience itself. Reverend Solter and the wardens welcomed us with a remarkable chapel service. Thrilled by this experience, I, Seoyeon, applied for the Interfaith Chapel Council and the Chapel Readers! I personally loved the chapel services the most among all the orientation activities.
At the end of the tightly packed three days, all new students seemed to have learned something about St. Mark’s School and its community, whether it was something of importance or not. For some, it was playing cloister ball and getting used to the campus. For others, it was learning a few new names or making new friends. For me, Anouk, it was realizing how outstandingly supportive and welcoming the student leaders were. Both of us believe that the orientation at St. Mark’s is a tradition that will warmly welcome new students for years to come, and with its myriad of activities, help us call this school home.
