We are always proud of the experiences of our pterodactyls. Our Community Spotlight features the stories of alumni and community members during and after their time at Marvelwood. To submit your story or nominate a Marvelwood graduate, email alumni@marvelwood.org.
Before coming to Marvelwood for his sophomore year, Sosori Borrey ‘10 attended an International School in Kabul, Afghanistan. At that time, his mother worked for the United Nations, so they traveled quite a bit. When his school told him he was short one math credit and would not be able to move into the 10th grade, Soso and his mom began their search for summer programs in the U.S. Within minutes, Marvelwood popped up, and the application was started. Soso’s hard work during the summer session impressed the Marvelwood faculty and he was invited to return in the fall as a full-time student. Read on to see how Marvelwood set Soso up for success and ultimately influenced his decision to become a teacher. Written by Advancement Associate for Alumni Engagement, Abbey Gelineau.
When I asked Soso to share his Marvelwood story, he smiled, chuckled, and said, “Well, I basically needed a math credit to go to the next grade.” That missing credit was Marvelwood’s gain and set Soso on a path to help others in many different ways. Soso acknowledges Marvelwood’s Community Service program for initiating this passion and talked at length about his placement and how it has influenced his life thus far.
Soso said that when he was a child, he loved being outside and spent much of his free time playing in and exploring the great outdoors. With that in mind, he was excited to choose a community service placement that would allow him to take a break from the classroom and immerse himself in the environment here on Skiff Mountain. What Soso didn’t realize was that “when you sign up for outdoor community service at Marvelwood, you’re working outside all year long!” Although Afghanistan does experience winter, he reported, it didn’t come close to the brutal cold we endure here in New England, and he wasn’t the least bit prepared! That being said, Soso carried on and dutifully attended each Wednesday session which included clearing trails, cutting and stacking firewood, and ultimately helping to make maple syrup. While it took some time to acclimate, Soso admits that he learned to love the change of seasons and now prefers the New England climate to the tropics of Papua New Guinea, where he lives now.
This community service placement also linked Soso to another 10th-grade student who spent his childhood growing up on a farm. This student helped show him the ropes and encouraged him to join the lacrosse team. When I asked Soso if there were other students he remembers from his time at Marvelwood, he shared that he’s still in touch with classmates Briana Canavan ‘10 and Ashley Melendez ‘10, even after all these years. In terms of faculty members, Soso fondly mentions Ms. Heather Brand, who served as his dorm parent and was very helpful to him and the other students who were new and far away from home. “She was always there to talk,” he said.
When I asked Soso to talk about success and how his Marvelwood education factored in, he paused for a moment and said “I would do it all over again if I had the chance.” He credits his time here and his relationships with faculty for influencing his decision to become a teacher. Soso currently works at an all-girls school in Papua New Guinea that goes from Kindergarten through 8th grade. His primary job is teaching PE, but he also helps to coach soccer, runs the small campus library, and does all the photography for the school’s website. Soso studied photography at New England College in New Hampshire and continues to fuel that passion with his own work, seen HERE on his personal photography website.
As we concluded our interview, I asked Soso if there were any last-minute thoughts he wanted to share with our community. “I love working with kids,” he said. “Especially because I want to try to give them a bit of what I had when I was growing up.” He advises our current Marvelwood students not to take their time here for granted because it will go by so quickly, and he also encourages them to ask questions and not be afraid to make mistakes. “We all struggle in life in one way or another,” he said. “But we learn to move on and make the best of things. Use the tools that you were given – to think for yourself but also to help others at the same time.”
Spoken like a true educator!
