Words of Wisdom from the Class of 2020

By Suha Choi ‘22

Screen Shot 2020-06-03 at 9.01.51 AM.png


Although Chapel took place remotely this window, it remained a place of community building and connection for us all. The end of year Chapel that the new Monitors ran commemorating the class of 2020 was a wonderful tribute and a great example of what a caring, supportive community St. Mark’s is.

Here are some of the words of wisdom and positivity departing VI formers shared with us this year. Thank you all for your bravery and honesty!!! Thanks to Niki Noel ‘20 for assembling this list for her chapel talk, the last of the year.

“You are all amazing and beautiful people no matter what you look like.”

- Sierra Petties 

“Family and friends are some of the greatest things in life. Be grateful that you have them during this difficult time.”

- Paige LaMalva

“Pick up the phone and facetime someone who you haven’t talked to for awhile. If not now, then when?”

- Will Bundy

“I want to thank every single one of you for making the three and a half years at St. Mark’s the best.”

- Amy Kim 

“Do not give up on your dreams and be persistent.”

- Jordan Uzochukwu 

“The bonds that I have made with every guy in my grade is so close that I count them as my family.”

- Conrad Krapf 

“Even though you might be in a situation you don’t want to be in, there is more to be happy about than to stress over.”

- Julian Yang  

“You don’t know what you got until it is taken away from you.”

- Noah Robb 

“If we don’t give ourselves the chance to start something, then we will miss out on a world of opportunities.”

- Niki Noel

“I think it is important to realize that this community actually does matter.”

- Alex Sumner  

“With that said, in the nicest way possible, let’s all stop complaining.

- Ashley Battiata 

“Your time at St. Mark’s is going to fly, far quicker than you realize, so please appreciate the time you spend here with the people you care about, and even the people you couldn’t care less about.”

- Connor Flaherty 

“Set propitiously high goals for yourself, and get mad when you don’t achieve them.”

-Will Appel 

“The biggest lesson to take away from my experiences is not only that failure is inevitable. It is, and it will be bad, but afterward, you pick yourself up, you improve, and you go on.”

- Charles Brookby 

“If you find yourself questioning these basic things ridiculous, there are plentier grandiose things to examine.”

- Lora Xie

“I can only compare my love for them with God’s love for us. It’s unconditional and takes control of your heart in the most fulfilling way.”

- Grace Zawadaski