3 minute read
Same Halls, Different Shoes: Sam Schnur ’21 Reflects on Her Internship at Peck
Editor's note: Peck alumna Sam Schnur '21 interned with Peck's Strategic Communications and Marketing department in May 2025 to complete her Independent Senior Project from the The Pingry School. We asked her to reflect on what it feels like to return to her alma mater, this time as a staff member!
Returning to Peck four years after graduating, this time as a staff member, was definitely a full-circle moment. Walking the same halls as an eighteen-year-old intern truly flipped the script.
On my first day back on South Street, I turned into Peck’s campus, eager to see Lindenwold again. It felt surreal to drive the same route I once began as a fourth grader—back when I was too young to even dream of being behind the wheel, let alone navigating the twists of the parking lot and the chaos of parking.
As I pulled through the familiar gates, I was immediately met with something new: a row of tall, blue traffic cones blocking the way. These hadn’t been there when I was a student. I tried to steer around them carefully, but ended up knocking a few over, sending three cones flying across the pavement.
Slightly panicked and flustered, I threw the car into reverse and backed my way through the entire lot, searching for a spot that wouldn’t involve any more cone casualties.
Interning in the Strategic Communications & Marketing Office gave me a completely new perspective. Behind the scenes, I came to appreciate just how much thought, effort, and coordination it takes to keep parents informed, highlight student achievements, produce the weekly Beacon e-newsletter, and so much more that keep Peck running smoothly.
While my main task was digitally archiving what felt like an endless trove of photos—box after box, each packed to the brim—I also had the opportunity to shadow Ms. Webber, Mrs. Cleary, and Mrs. Grewal in their day-to-day work: managing Instagram content, joining weekly team meetings, and I even got hands-on experience assisting professional photographers for two days.
Through their guidance, I saw firsthand that it truly takes a village to tell Peck’s story. The endearing and compassionate students Peck nurtures into incredible teenagers, and eventually into inspiring young adults, taught me to never take a single moment on campus for granted.
One of my favorite responsibilities as an intern was supervising Lower School lunch, which gave me the chance to connect with the youngest members of the Peck community. At every new table, I was met with the same curious questions: Did you go to Peck when you were our age? What year did you graduate? and, of course, Were you a Downy or a Redhead?
It was surreal to be on the other side of those conversations— to be the alum giving back to the school that shaped so much of who I am. Looking at these younger students, I felt proud and incredibly grateful—not only to have attended Peck, but to have had the opportunity to return four years later as an intern.
While I may not have had the same lasting impact on these students as their teachers will, I hope I’ve shown them one thing: that Peck will always be a home—and it will always welcome its alumni back with open arms, no matter how much time has passed.
