by Zoey Lee ’27 & Claire cho ‘28 & Joy kim ‘28
This year, St. Mark’s saw an influx of new sophomores—an unprecedented number of 26 students. As a new sophomore, adjusting to a new academic and social environment, as well as looking for connections amongst peers already familiar with each other, is understandably challenging. In spite of this, our new sophomores are thriving within the community, actively participating in and reshaping various aspects of St. Mark's.
The following interviews give an insight into the new, exciting lives of such students:
Divit Vallandas
Divit Vallandas ‘28
This is Divit. He’s from Hopkinton, MA, and he lives in the Sawyer dormitory. He went to Hopkinton High School before coming to St. Mark’s, and although he’s playing soccer this season, his main sports are basketball and baseball. It is his first time attending a boarding school, but his transition was fairly smooth, especially because of the option for boarding students to go home on weekends. This past summer, he attended Strong Start, a St. Mark’s pre-orientation program where new students can become familiar with campus as well as their future classmates. He is glad to be a part of the incredibly welcoming St. Mark’s community and is excited to continue to meet new people and immerse himself in all that St. Mark’s has to offer.
Sophia Liu
Sophia is from Newton, MA, and lives in the Thayer dormitory. She went to Newton North High School before coming to St. Mark’s, and one thing she highlighted about St. Mark’s is the size of the community, which she loves. She also likes that the friend groups are not always limited to a specific form, as people connect with others in various grades through classes and sports. She plays soccer and lacrosse, as well as the viola in orchestra. The academic transition from a public school to St. Mark’s was easier than she thought, allowing her to make a smooth transition into the St. Mark’s community.
Kabir Nair
Kabir is from Groton, MA, and he lives in T House, where he is enjoying its kind community. Since he is close to home, he goes home pretty much every weekend. Before coming to St. Mark’s, he went to a junior boarding school, Hillside School, but he was not a boarding student there. He initially applied to St. Mark’s when he was in eighth grade, but was not prepared to be a boarding student, so he waited another year and reapplied to enter as a sophomore. However, now that he’s here, he loves the school and thinks the community is very welcoming, making his transition seamless. He is on the Varsity Boys Soccer this fall, and also plays ice hockey and crew. He also plays the piano and is part of the Marksmen acapella group.
Mia Schabkar
Mia is from Austria and lives in the Gaccon dormitory. She is planning to stay in the US, away from her home, for a year. In Austria, sports are typically not integrated into the school schedule, so she finds the dedicated practice sessions an exciting opportunity. In the winter and spring, she is planning to play ice hockey and tennis. She likes how sports activities allow students to grow friendships while learning discipline and promoting well-being. She has not completely adjusted to the school system yet and is getting used to the split lunch blocks and letter schedule, but she is beginning to get used to it. She feels that the community is friendly and close-knit, especially due to the high participation in extracurricular activities.
Charlotte Butler Conklin
Charlotte Butler Conklin ‘28
Charlotte was raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She’s a boarding student living in the Thayer dormitory. Amongst the many school activities she has had the opportunity to be a part of, she particularly enjoys volleyball. Outside of the classroom, she likes to listen to music, broaden her social circle, and foster her passion for art. Indeed, her dorm room, adorned with various framed pictures showcasing her creativity and vibrant internal life, is a testimony to the latter. As indicated by her robust social life, her positive energy and capacity for empathy have already left a tangible impact on the St Mark's community. In turn, she finds this community an “accommodating” environment full of “nice and welcoming” people. As for the academic aspects of her life, she regards her classes as just challenging enough to push her into genuine learning.
As evident in the lives of our new fourth form students enclosed within this issue, our new students are overcoming the difficulties of adjusting to a new environment and becoming impactful members of the St. Mark’s community. Welcome to St. Mark’s!