Sarah Markey is headed off to Yale next fall, leaving behind an immeasurable legacy at Williston.
Sarah has held numerous roles at Williston, including senior class President, day student proctor, writing and math center tutor, and more, as well as being a beloved friend to almost everyone that has met her.
Sarah began at Williston in 7th grade. Her brother, Nat, was a 9th grader, and her mom, Ann Hallock, worked in the Communications office. Little did the Williston community know how much of an impact Sarah would have on the school, as well as on all the people she has met.
Emily Hamann, a sophomore boarder from Marlboro, Mass., has known Sarah since her first days on campus, but has become really close with her over the past couple of months, and cannot speak more highly of Sarah’s impact on the Williston community and her life.
“I don’t think there is anyone else who has impacted the Williston community as much as Sarah Markey has. Her determination and effort that she puts into everything is inspiring, and I wish everyone could have even half the heart she does,” Emily said. “Without thinking twice, she has taken me under her wing and has become more than my big sister, and I go to her for absolutely anything.”
Emily loves how Sarah cares for her friends and everyone around her.
“What makes Sarah the most awesome is the genuine care she has for each person she encounters, whether a stranger or a friend. She makes everyone around her feel appreciated and loved without even trying,” she said. “She inspires me to be the best version of myself everyday.”
Sydni Landman, a senior day student from Longmeadow, Mass., met Sarah her freshman year and has only gotten closer to her since. She noted the impact Sarah has had on Williston and on her.
“Sarah is always putting in time and effort for numerous events on campus, some which I don’t think would have happened without her. She definitely acts as a role model for many students,” Sydni said. “She is a great, comforting friend and is always there for you. She also never fails to make me laugh. I hope everyone knows how awesome she is.”
Maeve Reynolds, a senior boarder from Plymouth, Mass., has been friends with Sarah since preseason field hockey freshman year, and recalls their trip to Camp Becket, where one of Maeve’s first impressions of Sarah happened to be an unfortunate circumstance.
“She dropped her phone into the water while we were in the canoe, which was funny because we weren’t even supposed to have our phones on us in the first place, and of course the one time she breaks a rule her phone ends up at the bottom of the lake along with her Sammy card,” Maeve said.
Maeve also recognized Sarah’s tremendous contribution to the Williston community.
“She has definitely left some big shoes to fill here and has helped a lot in improving the weekend activities here at Williston,” Maeve said. “She is also very approachable and if you have any ideas for ways the school can improve she is willing to take those ideas to student council.”
Greg Tuleja, Williston’s Academic Dean and Sarah’s advisor, says Sarah has impacted the Williston community “in a million different ways.”
“She is an amazing and natural leader, who knows how to listen to others, get advice, but then make her own opinion known, all with calmness, humor, poise, and perspective,” Tuleja said. “Sarah seems to be interested in everything – tutoring, community service, poetry, not to mention 3,000 socks collected for those in need! Sarah has done it all at Williston.”
Tuleja loves having Sarah in his advisory, and has become accustomed to her visiting anytime she is in the Schoolhouse.
“I have been lucky to have Sarah Markey associated with me and my advisory. She no doubt would have accomplished just as much at Williston with any other advisor, but she was part of mine, and that has brought to me a true sense of pride and satisfaction,” Tuleja said. “I admire her character and I would trust her judgment in any circumstance.”
Ann Hallock, Sarah’s mother and Director of Communications at Williston, has loved getting to see her daughter grow and become increasingly involved on campus.
“I’m so proud of all the different things she has tried and gotten involved with at Williston,” Hallock said. “I remember when she was in 7th grade and went to her first activity fair. I think she signed up for literally almost every club! She has always liked being busy and involved with things, and Williston has been a great place for being able to do that.”
Hallock also thinks it will be different at Williston without both Sarah and Nat next year.
“I’m sure it will be strange, and maybe a little sad next Fall, not having Sarah drop off her field hockey stick in my office or running into Nat or Sarah in the dining hall, which (at least for me!) has always been such a nice moment in the day,” she said. “But I also know they’ll be off to new adventures.”
Sarah “truly loves Williston,” and credits Williston as a constant in her life over the past six years.
“Over the last six years, I’ve grown tremendously,” Sarah said. “It’s hard to imagine that when I first met my teachers and coaches I was a nervous middle-schooler with braces and frizzy hair. I’m not really sure where the time went. Williston has been a stable continuity in my life filled with priceless memories.”
Some of Sarah’s favorite Williston moments include “spending every F free freshman year in Family Dollar with Natalie Stott, going to the Dominican Republic on a Spring break trip my freshman year, trips to the Ronald McDonald House with the Community Service club for the past six years, spending 11 hours straight in the Schoolhouse making the haunted house this Fall, and taking Williston Scholars History.”
However, it’s the small moments some may not notice that have left a lasting impact on Sarah.
“Honestly, my favorite memories come from passing time between classes, the walk to and from practice, staying late at dinner etc.,” she said. “Those little moments are priceless.”
Sarah has some words of wisdom for underclassmen with years left at Williston, but her words could resonate with anyone at any point in their lives.
“Be spontaneous,” she said. “My favorite Williston memories are from times I’ve seized the moments. Whether that’s been randomly playing four square in the day student lot after classes, getting involved with Janus on a whim, or playing softball randomly in my last season ever at Williston, I’ve found so much joy in spontaneity. That’s one of the beautiful things about Williston: you can take risks – academically, socially, athletically — without any fear. So, underclassmen, be spontaneous! Try new things. It seriously makes high school way more fun.”
At Yale, Sarah will once again go to school with her brother, Nat Markey ’20.