Class of 2020

ST. MARK’S SCHOOL OF TEXAS Senior Reflections

by Sam Ahmed '20

Almost all of us dreamt of this year. The year for all the “lasts.” Last dances. Last assemblies. Last classes. And last memories with the 89 brothers who make up the Class of 2020. After years of putting on the same white collared shirts every morning, we were ready for a change.

That switch into the blue shirts on our last days as juniors signified the start of a legacy the Class of 2020 would leave behind once our Upper School days came to a close. But this year needs no introduction. Every memory, good or bad, is already etched into all of our minds. Each month represented another chapter that challenged each and every one of us.

When September hit, the school year was already in full force. We were studying for some of the last tests we would take in high school, leading our first assemblies and club meetings, and taking charge as varsity team captains. We took the blue shirts seriously because finally it was our turn to set the example for the rest of the Marksmen to follow. Meeting our little buddies for the first time, the feeling of being seniors started to set in.

As October rolled around, it was much of the same. We continued to lead with intensity and passion that resonated across 10600 Preston Road, starting off the month with a memorable senior auction. But the night of October 20 forced us to adapt on the spot while never missing a beat. An F3 tornado ripped through campus that night and the subsequent days away from campus pushed the St. Mark’s community closer together than ever. Marksmen took time to care for their neighbors, complete strangers, and anyone who needed help throughout the tragedy. Homecoming plans shifted as we no longer had Hicks Gym for the volleyball game, and Hunt Stadium was still unusable. But we weren’t alone. Hockaday and Greenhill offered up their gym and football field, respectively, and made their venues feel like our home.

November came with its own challenges. Returning to campus and adapting to this new normal seemed almost impossible. Basketball players found temporary homes before Spencer Gym could be renovated. Assemblies were held across campus to wait for repairs on Decherd. And Marksmen adapted to this new campus life without complaints.

As December approached, the end of 2019 came without warning. Yearly traditions continued as planned. The Senior Class completed a successful Gift Drive, collecting 2,232 gifts for kids in the Dallas area. We carried our little buddies on our

shoulders before we departed from campus and spent the holidays with family and friends.

When we came back from break during January, the year 2020, our graduation year, was starting to feel real for once. The new year made us question how we would want to be remembered as a class

and what legacy we wanted to leave.

During February, we did the impossible. Capping off the winter sports season, we won SPC titles in soccer, swimming, and basketball all in the same day, something that hasn’t happened in decades. We etched our names into SPC record books for

years to come. Fairytale stories of comebacks and tears of pure bliss echoed across the St. Mark’s campus for days.

March was one month that we will never forget. After watching the juniors host another successful McDonald’s Week on campus, we were faced with a global pandemic that forced us to lead when faced with another seemingly impossible challenge. Zoom classes and virtual assemblies quickly became the new normal, and the 10600 webpage became a new home to help Marksmen always feel connected to campus.

During April, we started to develop a routine, balancing classes, online activities and family time. We started to fear for our end-of-the-year activities. Commencement, Baccalaureate, and Marksmen Ball, staples of a St. Mark’s experience, were up in the air. But through all the uncertainty, we continued to take charge as seniors, creating engaging content for 10600 from our homes. We could have used the pandemic as an excuse to dismiss our responsibilities, but we did the opposite. We embraced the challenges that came.

And when May finally hit, all we could think about was May 22, our original graduation day. Online classes came to an end and home AP exams

started. The school year was over before we even knew it, and we were left wanting more. The drive through campus to pick up our yearbooks and drop

(opposite) The Class of 2020 proudly show off their senior shirt

(above) Marksmen cheer on the varsity soccer team at Winter SPC

(left) Kasen Roberson ’20 meets his Lower School Buddy

off our blue shirts reminded us the strength of the community, and on May 22, when we safely picked up our diplomas, the bittersweet ending started to hit all of us.

Some of us still like to think we are seniors. We will

put on our senior shirts from time to time and be reminded of times we spent when we were together. Even though this year came with its unique set of problems, we never gave up at the slightest thought of failure. We embraced the discomfort and

finished the year as Marksmen, never letting our circumstances define our experiences.

This year was hard to sum up in words. No matter how much we write, it will never explain the full story and significance of what happened this school year, but hopefully these chapters gave an insight into the story of the 2019-2020 school year. All we can say is that this year is one we will never forget.