Going the Extra Mile

The Classic
I know that you were an [Election Simulation] candidate. Can you talk about that kind of group work?

Mark Mbogho
I think the Election Sim was a great group project. I love the people I worked with. If it was just me alone, our campaign wouldn't be as successful as it was. 

The Classic
Did you enjoy being a candidate?

Mark Mbogho
Yes, I did. Originally, I didn't want to be one, but my AP Government teacher Mr. Krinsky persuaded me. And I was not really a super outgoing, talkative type, but then I tried it, and it was pretty cool. I liked walking the halls and people saying my name or candidate's name.

The Classic
What colors and why would you assign your folders for the core subjects? (English, math, science, social studies and world languages)

Mark Mbogho
People always give the wrong answers, so this is the definitive answer. English is gray/black. When I think of English, I always think of gray. Science is either green or purple, depending on if it's Earth science or chemistry. If it's Earth Science, it would be green. Chem would be purple. Math is 100% blue. World Languages are yellow, and history is brown/orange.

The Classic
Is there a particular reason why?

Mark Mbogho
I think it's just that I used to have a lot of notebooks in my elementary middle school. I just color-code them, not always, but a lot of the time. English would be the default black notebook, and science would end up being the green book. But then other things, like science, have trees in it. You know, photosynthesis and the trees are green. Chemistry, we picture purple chemicals. But then some of them, like history, I have no idea. It's just when I think of history, I think of brown, so I don't know.

The Classic
In a school, you're supposed to learn multiple lessons a day. What's the biggest lesson you learned outside of class from a friend, teacher, faculty member, or other person in the Townsend Harris community?

Mark Mbogho
The biggest lesson, which is actually a lesson I was able to give to someone else as well, is be nice to yourself. It's okay to not have things figured out. If you need, you can take time for yourself. This summer 2025, I definitely took some time to myself, because junior year was a lot of schoolwork and stuff, and then there were a lot of personal things. And then summertime was a good break for me, and I just was able to relax. I started changing. I started to buy new clothes, and I grew my hair out. 

The Classic
What are particular things that you enjoyed this summer? 

Mark Mbogho
Going to church is a big one. And I know to many people it is not that big of a thing, but to me, it's a huge thing. Me and my family, we're humble people. We go to church every Sunday. So, I've definitely enjoyed going to church. I met with some friends over the summer. We ate; we bought clothes. I watched a Superman movie. It was great. 

The Classic
What is something about school that you secretly love, but it's something that students tend to dislike or roll their eyes at in popular culture?

Mark Mbogho
Okay, so I'm going to get a lot of eyebrows raised for this, but I like the mile run. I have to say, I don't know why it's so hated. I know it's a little bit hard, but if you just jog at your own pace and have some music, it's really refreshing because I personally just love running and walking. I'll run even, two, three miles, just on my own, and not even, run— I sprint. I feel like too many people sprint the mile and think it's an actual race. I know it is getting graded, but if you genuinely just run at your own pace, which I think some teachers encourage, it's really enjoyable. I think it's way too underrated. 

The Classic
Do you think that exercise helps with your health and keeping a positive mentality?

Mark Mbogho
1,000,000%. Going outside or taking a walk when you're stressed is one of the best experiences. That fresh air going through your nostrils, and if you're listening to music, that is even better. All your sensations are pretty much working, your nose is taking the air, your ears are taking the music. You're looking at the sights. Maybe there are leaves on the tree branches. You pass those. You feel the fences that you walk past. So definitely exercise. Take a walk. Your body and mind will thank you. 

The Classic
If we ask people who know you and know about what you contribute to the school, how would you want them to describe your contributions to the school? If we ask them how you leave our community better than you found it no matter how small, how would you want them to answer?

Mark Mbogho
I would hope that the answer is that I am just a positive person. I love spreading positivity. I love being there for people. I love helping people any little way I can. Sometimes it's just checking up on someone. ‘Hey, how are things? How are you doing?’ Maybe there are a lot of things out of my control. I'm only one person, but I'll be here for you if you need me. I'm definitely trying to be more connected with people. Junior year was crazy. It was a really rough year for a lot of people. So, I feel like I let that negativity into my head a lot. Then one of my friends told me that it had just started affecting how I was interacting with her and others. I had just become super cold, super cynical, and I hated that. She told me that in the middle of the summer, and I was like, I can't go into senior year like this. I have got to change how I approach things. So now I think when I graduate senior year, more people will remember me as that positive guy. I'll always be smiling. You know, I treat everyone equally. I open my arms to all. Mark loves all of you.