Opinion on PDGs
by Justin Yang ‘29
The first time I saw “PDG” on my schedule during club block, my immediate reaction was probably the same as most III Formers’: “Seriously? We have to go to another boring class instead of hanging out back at the dorm? Nobody wants to give up free time to sit in a circle talking about ‘feelings’ with people they barely know!” So I dragged myself into the classroom, expecting awkward icebreakers and an hour that would somehow feel longer than an actual class. Instead, my PDLs, Feifei and Rohan, walked in carrying a giant box of donuts and managed to lead one of the most memorable icebreakers I’ve ever enjoyed. We wrote down three facts about ourselves, crumpled the paper into balls, and started throwing them across the room, waiting for someone else to pick one up. Within minutes, people who barely knew each other were laughing, guessing whose paper belonged to whom, and arguing over whether certain facts were believable. Somehow, a room full of strangers stopped feeling so unfamiliar. As the weeks went on, the PDL meetings became something more meaningful than I expected. The conversations became less about awkward introductions and more about the realities of being a III Former at St. Mark’s. People talked honestly about stress, balancing workloads, friendships, and the pressure of trying to seem like you already had everything figured out when most of us really didn’t.
What makes PDGs special is the people they bring together. PDGs force you to be with people you usually wouldn’t talk to. Suddenly, you find yourself sitting next to someone from a completely different friend group or background, talking about things you normally would never bring up in everyday conversation. This can feel a little uncomfortable at first, but over time, it becomes one of the best parts of the experience. In a school where it is easy to stay inside your own circle, the groups quietly push people to connect with others they otherwise might never really get to know. Furthermore, you get the chance to connect with older students who have already gone through the exact experiences you are facing as a III Former. Talking to Feifei and Rohan is different from asking teacher questions because they had just been through the same things we were dealing with.
Looking back now, I think the biggest reason PDGs matter is that they make a large and intimidating school feel smaller. Most III Formers probably walk into their first PDG meeting expecting the same thing I did: awkwardness, boredom, and a waste of free time. But somewhere between the donuts and paper-ball icebreakers were the conversations that helped St. Mark's feel more like home.
Shoutout to the BEST PDL’s this year, Rohan and Feifei, and all faculty who supported the process.
