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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.

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