Woodstock School Alumni Magazine Vol CIV, 2011

12 - Quadrangle
Back on the hillside
I never, ever, thought that I would find myself back at Woodstock. Having grown up in India – in Kolkata, to be precise
– I had had my fill of urban chaos, and swore I would never return – even to the serenity of Mussoorie. My mind was
made up. Marcus Shaw ’87 shares his thoughts.
Never say never.
Twenty-four years after graduation, things
seemed different. What changed? Why did
it take so long? Under what circumstances
would I now consider returning? How could
I use my skill set from the corporate world in
an educational environment? I struggled with
many of these questions – as do many of us. I’d
like to share my journey, together with a few
thoughts from other alumni who have returned
to Woodstock. Perhaps you will find that our
stories are not much different from your own.
Woodstock has a way of luring us back. The
childhood memories, friendships forged
through trying times, rich traditions that have
spanned a century or more - they all contribute
to the lens through which we view and
interpret our world. As truly global citizens,
we have taken these things to every corner of
the world, yet the formative years spent here
have influenced us in ways that we cannot
escape or deny.
For some, the connection with Woodstock is
an integral part of life from the day they leave.
For others, myself included, there is a long
cycle of reengagement - a season, perhaps, of
learning to fly on our own before we reconnect
with the past. I suppose that’s true of
anyone, not just Woodstock people; after all,
the years of college, marriage, child bearing,
child rearing and life in general clamor for every
free moment! But, as with the change in
the seasons, we may find ourselves at a certain
point with a yearning to revisit what was, in
comparison with most people’s education, a
truly extraordinary experience. In many ways
I failed to appreciate all the Woodstock had
to offer… and almost twenty-five years later,
I am discovering that anew.
Personally, I’d summarize the years since
graduation in the following phases. I can’t
speak for the stages that are yet to come;
I’d love to hear from you more seasoned
veterans!
• College confusion
• Long-term relationship
• Children, diapers, schooling
• Grad school
• Gradually increasing levels of freedom as
the kids gain more independence.
That is where I found myself at when I
received a phone call asking if I would
attend a focus group for Woodstock. That
was the start of a wonderful conversation
that eventually led me back here on staff.
The decision to come back to India and to
Woodstock has presented some incredible
opportunities for my family – all of which
I am sure you can readily identify with:
• Exposure to many different cultures.
• Rich traditions that cross religious
boundaries and foster tolerance for all.
• An incredible environment of mutual
respect and appreciation.
• The opportunity to bond with my
children as they experience what I did.
Perhaps the biggest stumbling block for
me was the assumption that I had nothing
to contribute, or that the only thing we as
alumni could do was give money. Nothing
could be farther from the truth. When I
arrived, I was surprised at just how many
had actually returned to work at Woodstock.
There are currently fourteen alumni on
staff, teaching, working in dorms and in
the support offices, all with unique talents
that contribute to shaping the lives of an
incredible group of kids. Why not join
us? See what opportunities are available
at www.woodstockschool.in/Employment
We would love to hear your story! E-mail
me at MarcusShaw@Woodstock.ac.in
Alumni working at Woodstock
• Karen Tamminen ’69
Residence Staff
• Abhra Bhattacharjee ’92
Director of Development
• Marcus Shaw ’87
Alumni Coordinator
• Darab Nagarwalla ’80
Outdoor and Environmental
Education Coordinator
• Anitra Mansson ’74
Health Centre Coordinator
• Judy Crider ’69
Staff Welfare Officer
• Rochita Rao Plonka ’98
Head of English as a Second
Language
• Jeff Rollins ’76
ICT Manager
• Sue Rollins ’77
Teacher
• Haydn Wilkins ’05
Residence Teacher
• Kirsten Brady ’96
Head of Admissions
• Amy Seefeldt ’93
Dean of Academics
• Maya Dutt ’92
Residence Staff
• Ajay Mark ’71
Head of Sports
Maya Dutt ‘92
I grew up at Woodstock and entered boarding in
the sixth grade in 1984, and was in boarding
until I graduated in 1992. These were some of the
most important years of my life, and some of
the relationships that I cherish the most from that
time period are those that I continue to have with
my dorm parents through the years. Working as a
dorm parent here has given me the opportunity to give
back to the School, and pay forward what these dorm parents invested in
me so many years ago.