Life at MA

By Abby Mullarney ‘27 and Marina Gunning '27 in Spring 2025

As the school year comes to an end and the Class of 2025 prepares to throw their caps in the air, the halls of Marin Academy are becoming just a little quieter. But before our seniors depart for the next chapter in life, we had the opportunity to sit down and talk to a few of them to reflect on their time in high school and leave one final imprint. We wanted to discover, through their stories and advice, the bigger significance/ purpose of high school beyond grades and academics. We asked seniors Julie Martinez and Amelia Thomas to open up about things they wish they knew as underclassmen and their biggest takeaways from high school, allowing us insight on how to best spend our fleeting time here.

When asked, "What is something you wish you knew as a freshman," Julie Martinez, a modeling HumDev TA and a starring actress in the MA Theater program shed light on the importance of focusing on the long-term journey regarding the stress caused by tests and grades. She says, "You're only going to remember your experiences and the good times; you're not going to think about that stressful moment, so why not have minimal stressful times and more great times?" To Julie, the high school experience is about balancing school and fun times to make the best memories. Amelia Thomas, a stunning multi-sport athlete at MA, wishes her freshman self knew that "it takes time… to find your people… [and it's important to be] giving yourself grace and not settling for anybody…Because you don't know [your people] first year. It just…naturally takes time for everybody. It's going to change. The change is inevitable." Amelia highlights the importance of building supportive relationships despite the daunting circumstances of a new environment so you can be surrounded by people who uplift you.

In reflecting on their time at MA, seniors Julie and Amelia consider their most significant life lesson from high school. Julie gave us a heartfelt account of her lack of self-advocacy when struggling to focus and learn, leading to an unknown learning profile she later discovered when having worked up the courage to ask for help. Julie says her learning profile "really helped me, and I was able to be more on top of my stuff." To summarize, she stated, "That was a big lesson for me is that I knew I needed help…I just have to ask for it." To Amelia, a big lesson she learned in high school is "being authentic and staying true to yourself…I feel like in high school, like, naturally, you kind of lose yourself." She further stated that to explore those unknown parts of who you are, it is vital to "stay curious and stay open…take care of your future yourself and just like, do as much as possible, because this school is incredible and you have a lot of things that you can do."

Our final question to these seniors is what they will miss the most about MA. Julie says she will miss her familiarity with life at MA: "Being at a place for so long, I'm obviously just gonna miss how comfortable it feels to be here…I feel so free at this campus." Julie stresses how we take for granted how much freedom we have at MA, such as having a lot of free time or going off campus, compared to other high schools. Amelia thinks similarly, claiming, "People take for granted how close everybody is and how supportive people can be. I feel like at a lot of schools, especially at a lot of rigorous academic institutions, it's easy to get wrapped up in the toxicity and the competitiveness, but I feel like here...everybody here is just really kind." Of everything that Julie and Amelia could have taken away from their MA experience,  the abundant feeling of home and community has left a lasting impression on these seniors the most. 

Regarding high school, we often hear the expression, "When will I ever use this in real life?" And though we don't disagree that you may never use a rational function again after your time here, many more parts of high school shape you into the person you enter the world as, in ways we often don't notice. Amelia and Julie, who have the unique perspective as seniors to look back at high school with an understanding of these mechanisms meant to push us to grow, leave us with insights on the importance of their time in high school. There are many challenging moments that we have experienced or are yet to come. Still, as the seniors have enlightened us, these are not to ruin your life but to push you past your comfort zone, expand your limits, and shape you into the best version of yourself. So whether it's trying a new class, joining a sports team, locking in during free block, or spending a night stress-free with good friends, please take advantage of your time in high school, knowing it is a safe place meant to help you expand your capabilities and build a strong foundation for the person you hope to become.