F&M Stories

Home / Commencement / Commencement Archive / Commencement 2021 / 2021 Senior Spotlights / Franklin & Marshall – Senior Spotlight: Mark Marotta

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

December 15, 2025

Sustaining the Living Classroom: Research and Reflection at Spalding Conservancy

Tom and Gina Russo’s connection to the Spalding Conservancy began years ago through the proximity of their home to the preserved space. Their relationship with the land and its ecosystem, however, didn’t begin to flourish until about five years ago.

December 10, 2025

F&M Celebrates Midyear Graduates

The campus community gathered Dec. 9 for the midyear completion recognition and reception, applauding students who finished academic requirements ahead of their cohort or completed an extra term.

December 8, 2025

A Diplomat’s Deep Dive into Marine Biology

Learning by doing is part of our DNA as Diplomats. Jaeyun An ’26 dove headfirst into this philosophy, spending a semester in the turquoise waters of Turks and Caicos researching the island’s diverse marine life. “This experience gave me the confirmation that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he said.