Aiden Lee ‘28
Photo at the front area of St. Mark’s School, facing the new dorm.
With a month into the fall term, new St. Mark’s School students are beginning to find their rhythm as they navigate academics, extracurricular activities, and the community’s unique culture. As they continue to adjust to the school environment, many students are already sharing positive reflections about their experiences so far.
Several new students mentioned the welcoming atmosphere of the St. Mark’s community. Gianna Zhang, a third former, expressed, "Coming [to St. Mark’s] is very welcoming; people here are very nice. Classes are hard but still good." This sense of warmth and support is echoed by Melanie Elias, another third former, who shared, "My experience was very interesting. I was nervous at the start, but now I am getting better. And it was the best decision I had ever made." Another new student appreciated the close-knit environment at St Mark's. Chauncey Brown declared, “I'm settling in well at St. Mark's, and I like fitting in with everything. The classes aren't too hard either.” While getting used to a new community is not always easy, most students feel comfortable and are able to focus on making new connections and enjoying their time at school.
For some students, however, adjusting to academics was a challenge. Luke Aldershaw, a third-form transfer student, remarked that there was a “big difference” between his middle school and St. Mark's School. Now, classes are “an hour longer,” and “the homework is harder.” But, he still likes school very much. “So far, I'm really enjoying it,” he noted. Allegra Diodati, another third former, also commented on balancing her studies and school life: “Sometimes I have a lot of homework and sometimes I don't, but I really like it. It's pretty nice to get into a consistent routine.”
Many students use sports activities as a way to balance the demands of rigorous academic courses. Jeremy Ndegawa, for example, shared his enjoyment of sports at St. Mark's: “School is a bit tough and different but it's pretty good, and I love football practice. The experience here is different in a good way and the bonding is really good.”
Despite such difficulties, students appreciate the many opportunities at St Mark's. Whether it's sports, academics, or personal growth, incoming freshmen seem to feel the benefits of this community. Ethan Ng says, “I really like it here. I like everyone here. I like sports. I like academics. I like everything.” As the students continue their lives at Mark's, they will face many more challenges and successes, but one thing is clear: the warmth of the St. Mark's community and the support of their peers and faculty will guide them through whatever comes their way.