F&M Stories
Senior Spotlight: Mark Marotta
As they prepare for their May 15 Commencement Ceremony, Franklin & Marshall seniors look back at their four years on campus—and what's next.
Name: Mark Marotta
Major: Dual major in economics and English (creative writing)
What town do you call home? Harrington Park, N.J.
Activities at F&M:
Men's rowing, Phi Kappa Psi, InterFraternity Council, WFNM, Creativity and Innovation Incubator
Your senior year has been unlike any other in F&M's history. What have you learned about yourself this year?
I've learned that I am much more patient than I initially thought of myself. Once quarantine began and the days crawled by, I developed more understanding and appreciation of delayed gratification.
What has been your most memorable moment or time here at F&M?
Singling out a specific moment is quite difficult. But, anytime I took a step out of my comfort zone, my surrounding community always supported me, even pushing me to limits much further than I expected I was capable of achieving.
What did you enjoy most about your time at the College?
Living in a place where my friends are no more than a few minutes away.
Why did you choose to attend F&M?
My oldest brother had graduated from here in 2014, so I always felt some proximity to the college. Then, when it came time to apply to schools, the writing-intensive curriculum teamed with the smaller class size ended up being as personalized as initially hoped.
What advice do you have for incoming first-years?
There are no wrong ways to get involved, and don't wait to spend all your flex until the end of the semester.
What are your plans for after graduation?
I don't have any plans set in stone as I am writing this, but hopefully, I will be living and working in Lancaster in the near future.
Related Articles
October 29, 2025
F&M Junior Merges Music and Medicine
What you care for most is what you influence. Esther Burlington ’27 is making an impact as both a singer and pre-medical student at F&M. The junior is co-president of The Poor Richards, the College’s longest-standing a cappella group.
October 27, 2025
Wall Street Journal Recognizes Franklin & Marshall for Student Outcomes and Learning Opportunities
F&M was ranked among the best colleges in the U.S. by the Wall Street Journal-College Pulse, which rates 584 eligible universities in the country on how well colleges set graduates up for financial success.
October 23, 2025
Get to Know F&M's New Faculty
This fall, five new professors joined the Franklin & Marshall faculty—a vibrant community of scholars who shape the College’s distinctive academic experience. Their research interests range from parasitology to documentary film, from diplomatic networks in the Middle East to algorithmic surveillance online. Read on to get to know these new members of our campus community and hear what they had to say about the F&M experience, life in Lancaster, and more.