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Alumni
Review #1, Class of 1999 |
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| College
Enrolled |
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Trinity College |
| Home
Town, State (Country) |
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Framingham,MA |
| Years
Attended Boarding School |
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2 |
| Activities
During Boarding School |
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I played varsity football, basketball, and baseball. I was captain for baseball senior year. I was part of the multi-cultural group called We The People. I was a dorm prefect my senior year, also. |
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| 1.) What was the best thing that happened to you in boarding school? |
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| The best thing that happened to me was being allowed to go to such a school. I came from a school where gangs dominated the halls and most of the student's minds were worried more about the violence that occur around them instead of the school work. My two years at St. Mark's definitely changed my life. It expanded my horizons in so many ways. I was able to meet so many interesting people from around the world and just appreciate school and the idea of getting an education. One of the proudest moments was being elected captain of the baseball because not only was I the first Latino to hold such a title but I was the first student of color, also. I came from a family where my grandfathers were sugar cane workers in Puerto Rico. A family where our homes had a dirt floor in the kitchen. It just made the accomplishments I had at St. Mark's even more special. |
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| 2.) What would you have done differently during your boarding school experience? |
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| I truly don't have any regrets. I believed that I accomplished what I needed to accomplish. I got my diploma, I exelled in my classes and in the athletic fields, and I was a student leader. I got to share my experience with my younger brother and made my family proud. What else can I ask for? |
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| 3.) What would you never want to change about your school? |
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| I would never want to change the close relationships that students develop while at St. Mark's. I made friends that I know I will have for life. I would never change that for the world. |
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| 4.) What things could be improved about your school? |
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| Diversity, Diversity, Diversity. There is a need for more teachers of color, more students of color, and more adminstrators of color. |
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| 5.) Do you have any final words of wisdom for visiting or incoming students
to your school? |
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| Go day by day. Don't try to think about the future if you can't handle the responsibilities of today. Get involve in athletics or extracurricular activities. The main campus is a lot better than the west campus. Trust me, when the snow and rain comes you will love the idea of never needing to stay outside. Don't ever give up on any dreams. Try new things and talk to everyone. It makes the world feel and look a lot better. |
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| 1.)
What did you like best about your school’s academics? |
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| I really enjoyed going to classes six times a week. It kept me focused on work and it also made the school year go by quickly. I especially enjoyed the numerous college prep courses available to the students. I was able to take courses that I knew I would take in college. |
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| 2.)
What did you like least about the academics in your school? |
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| I know the workload was extreme for a reason but it sometimes was a bit overwhelming. With athletics, club meetings, and other activities it was difficult to keep up with work but if you managed your time properly it was possible. There was only one African-American teacher in the school and no Latino Teachers. I’m Puerto Rican and it was tough because students of color didn’t have many options of going to someone, who I could identify with. |
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| 1.)
What did you like best about your school’s athletics? |
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| It was the best experience I had at the school in the two years I was there. I loved putting on a uniform and representing the school. I played a year of football and two years in varsity for basketball and baseball. I felt I could relate to many of the students when it came to Athletics. There wasn't a divide in economic class, race, or ethnicity. I felt at peace in the basketball court and baseball field. It was a time where I could release any frustrations and a time where I could let my mind relax and enjoy the competition. |
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| 2.)
What did you like least about the athletics in your school? |
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| There aren't many things I didn't like. I came from a public school system where politics were a big issue always on the athletic teams. The athletic facilities were one of the worst in the state. At St. Mark's I felt I left all that drama back home. One thing I wish would be better was if there was more student support at games. Although, we were a small school fan support could have been a bit better. The coaching was phenomenal and the advice I got there as a student athlete I still practice in college and life. |
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| 1.)
What did you like best about your school’s art program? |
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| Since I entered the school my junior year, I didn't participate in any art courses. But looking at the art center and the options students had it was much more diverse than the public school system I came from. |
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What did you like least about your school’s art program? |
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| I don't have the necessary experience to tell you what was good or bad about the art program. |
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| 1.)
What did you like most about the extracurricular activities offered
at your school? |
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| Being part of the multi-cultural club, We The People, was a chance for us to spend time together. We would discuss certain issues in school that could be improved. We also tried to mentor new students of color by using this club as a tool of communication. It was definitely a good experience. |
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| 2.)
What did you like least about the extracurricular activities offered
at your school? |
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| I personally felt that the school did not really listen to the issues presented by the students of color. I felt that the administration would just say they agreed with the issues and then not try to address the issue. The budget was really non-existent, also. Most of our events were sponsored by ourselves, which made it extremely difficult. |
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| 1.)
What was the best thing about dorm life in your school? |
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| I think the best part of the dorm life was meeting so many kids from around the world. I would spend time just talking and learning about everyone's background and culture. |
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What did you like least about dorm life? |
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| The worst thing was that there wasn't enough programs or events that allowed students, who lived together, enjoy each other's company. As a dorm prefect, I didn't come across any problems with student's respecting the rules but I, myself, thought the rules were a bit too strict at times (e.g. - Students needed to ask to use the bathroom during study hall and sign in and out when they used the bathroom). |
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| 1.)
What was the best thing about your dining arrangements? |
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| The best arrangement was that I had a good meal waiting for me after a game or before one. I enjoyed the conversations I would have with the cooking staff and it was just good atmosphere. |
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| 2.)
What did you like least about your dining arrangements? |
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| I believe that the menu was not diversified enough. I thought there should have been a larger international menu selection. |
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| 1.) How welcome did you feel by the other students when you first
arrived at the school? |
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| I believed that being an athlete helped a lot because I was able to be at the school a week in advance for preseaon workouts. This week allowed me to become more comfortable with the school and I got to meet people earlier than other students. As a standout athlete in baseball, I was surprised when students knew my name before I even met them. The social life was definitely a bit more pleasant if you were an athlete in the school. |
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| 2.)
Describe the level of diversity and integration of students in your
school: |
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| The diversity is not very good. Besides myself and my brother there were only two other Latinos. The African-American student population had about 10 boys and just 3 girls. This was definitely a big change from public school. The students of color tended to stay together out of class and off the athletic fields because we could relate to similar issues we were going through. |
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| 3.)
Describe typical fun activities you did on a weekend: |
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| I love the athletic events we had but after that I would mostly just listen to music, go dancing, or just watch movies with my friends. |
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What was the town like? |
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| The town was very small but there was a pizza shop downtown, which was a five minute walk. The shop was a good place to eat and relax. Catch up with friends. The school arranged trips to Boston almost every weekend. This was great because it allowed us to explore a world class city like Boston. |
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| 6:30 AM | Wake Up and Do My Chores, then Breakfast | | 8:00 AM | French Class | | 9:15 AM | School Meeting, Dorm Meetings, Chapel, etc | | 10:00 AM | African-American Literature | | 11:30 AM | Lunch, Club Meetings, Workout | | 1:00 AM | Psychology | | 2:30 AM | Break, Club Meetings | | 3:15 AM | Athletic Practice | | 6:00 AM | Dinner, Chapel on Tuesday nights | | 7:00 AM | Break, Extra Studying, Workout | | 8:00 AM | Study Hall at the Library or in the room | | 10:00 AM | Study Break | | 1:00 AM | Lights Out | |
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| 6:45 AM | Wake up, Chores, Breakfast | | 8:00 AM | Depending on the Week - French or African-American Lit. | | 9:15 AM | School Meeting in the Student Center | | 10:00 AM | Depending on the Week – Psychology or Math | | 11:30 AM | Lunch | | 12:00 AM | Athletic Games; Football, Basketball, Baseball | | 6:00 PM | Dinner | | 7:00 PM | Free Time; Go to the Mall, Do Homework, Attend a School Party, Chill out | | 12:00 PM | Lights Out | |
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