The engine roars to life; the sun dips below the horizon, and a car packed with members of the crew team streaks across Preston Road. A senior sits behind the wheel. Not because he has to, but because years ago, someone did the same for him.
Long before they led from the front, the school’s seniors first learned by example. Through high fives in the Lower School, shared meals after practice and car rides across town with their fellow brothers, they were always made to feel like they belonged — like they mattered.
Now, the class of 2025 is shaping the school’s culture by guiding the underclassmen, building connections and friendships that last far beyond simply sports or academics.
Senior Henry Estes began his journey in the first grade after attending four schools in four years. The community he was exposed to here gave him stability, a feeling of belonging and the foundation for the person he would grow up to be.
“I came in here as a 7-year-old, and I’m walking out a man,” Estes said. “If I had taken any other path, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”
His early years were spent in complacency — doing just enough to get by. But all of that shifted around freshman year, when something within him switched. He began going about each day with a sense of direction and a desire to learn.
“Eighth grade, I was going through the motions,” Estes said. “Ninth grade, something changed. I wanted to take advantage of my time at St. Mark’s.”
That transformation started on the football field, where Estes was given the opportunity to start as a freshman. From there, he developed an appreciation for what real work entails intellectually and athletically.
“Hard work doesn’t come easily, but it pays off,” Estes said. “St. Mark’s taught me that if you work hard and see the fruits of your labor, you’ll want to do it again.“
Even when his work wasn’t in the spotlight, Estes valued quiet consistency, especially through paving the way for the next generation. That attitude was rooted in gratitude. Throughout his 12 years at the school, Estes was always mindful of the ways teachers, coaches and fellow classmates impacted his life and how he impacted theirs.
“I hope I’m leading underclassmen in a way that betters the community—even if I don’t know their names yet,” Estes said. “I’m confident that the next leaders are going to feel the impacts of our class. I felt such a strong connection to the community and how much it had given to me, so I really wanted to give back to it.”
One of the year’s most celebrated moments came on the football field when the team ended a 11-year losing streak to ESD — a culmination of hard work, school pride and brotherhood.
“The brotherhood of 101 guys is something I’ll miss most,” Estes said. “I’ve cared for people, not just my friends, but the community members.”
That care wasn’t one-sided. Estes’s presence left a tangible mark on the people around him, especially younger students who looked up to his example, on and off the field.
“Henry Estes helped me become both a better athlete and person,” freshman Dillon Kennedy said. “He made me care more about all the little things.”
This sense of responsibility and friendship, supported through mentorship, has gradually become a quiet tradition at the school.
Senior Jack Tholking, a core member of the rowing team, is one of these leaders. His leadership style reflects the care he received as a freshman, when Evan McGowan ‘22 went out of his way to make him feel included.
“He was one of those guys who was always smiling and greeting everyone,” Tholking said. “He even drove me to practice, took me out for meals and helped me buy my first set of workout clothes—that had a huge impact on me.”
Now in his final year, Tholking is working to do the same.
“I realized I had like five or six different guys trying to get rides to practice,” Tholking said. “Then it hit me, they see me as someone they can rely on.”
The idea of upperclassmen influencing underclassmen not only changes how Tholking sees himself but also how he views his role and impact on the community. Instead of just showing up, it’s about stepping up.
“I just try to be a friendly face on campus,” Tholking said. “I smile, say hi and remember what it felt like to be in Lower School when older students would give you a high five. That stuff stays with you.”
For younger students, this sense of belonging truly does matter. This kind of culture doesn’t simply happen by accident. It’s built by example. For Tholking, that example also includes running the senior auction.
“We raised class funds for this year and future years,” Tholking said. “But the best part was that we included our little buddies. Families came, kids came — it felt like one big community.”
Rooted in seemingly small gestures, things like rides, meals and encouragement add up to something far bigger.
“You don’t need to be loud to lead,” Tholking said. “Just be consistent, be kind and make the younger guys feel like they belong.”
With just a month left in the school year, seniors like Thoking are beginning to reflect on what they’ll miss the most and how they hope to be remembered.
“I can’t pick one exact thing I’ll miss most, but I’ll definitely miss the team,” Tholking said. “I’ve been with them since freshman year, and I’ve gone from being the guy who got rides to the guy who gives them. That evolution means a lot.”
And he hopes that the underclassmen will remember that, too.
“Maybe in a few years, I’ll come back and coach will say, ‘This is Jack—remember him?’” Tholking said. “And someone will say, ‘Oh yeah, he took me to practice.’ I want to be remembered as someone who was friendly and outgoing.”
Here, at the school, where the ideas of tradition and community often define the student experience, it’s those simple, informal moments that can create the most meaningful memories for others.
