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
July 18, 2025
F&M Students Launch Global Nutrition Nonprofit
F&M's global community of students brought together Jordan Samuels and Lyla Loria, co-founders of Fuel for Thought, a nonprofit that provides meals and educational resources to students in South Africa.
July 17, 2025
From Passion to Ph.D.: He Zhuo ’24 Found A Calling in Chemistry
Forging into the unknown to uncover new inspirations — that’s the Diplomat way. For He Zhuo ’24, this meant exploring different fields before discovering an unexpectedly acute interest in chemistry. Now, he’s pursuing a doctorate in chemistry at Vanderbilt University. “Majoring in chemistry at F&M provided me with a robust foundation in the subject,” Zhuo said.
July 14, 2025
F&M’s New President on Getting to Know the College: ‘The First Priority is to Listen’
As he steps into the role of president of Franklin & Marshall College, Andrew “Andy” Rich is spending time with members of the F&M community and learning what they value about being Diplomats. Rich was named Franklin and Marshall’s 17th president earlier this year, and his first official day in that role was July 12.