Class Note 2013
Issue
May-June 2026
Class Note 2013. Hi everyone, I’m dedicating most of this column to a dispatch from Marissa Lynn, based in Minneapolis.
“ ‘What would you do if you had two extra hours every day?’ I glanced around at the faces of my coworkers as I considered the ice-breaker question and thought about my response. The simple question brought me on a journey, first back to mid-20s, as an overstressed, anxious medical student. Then, my answer was simple and immediate: Focus on myself. My prior self deeply craved a single hour to workout, cook a nice meal, or watch a TV show. Amid continuous exams and the constant nagging thoughts that I wasn’t working hard enough, an hour to relax was an elusive luxury. With no dependents or real responsibilities beyond pursuing my own education, this answer was appropriate for the time.
“Then, in 2023, my daughter was born and priorities shifted. Asked the same question after her birth, I would answer: Focus on my daughter. I smiled thinking about how we would spend the time reading her favorite book, walking to the lake, or swinging on the playground. My new answer reflected the seismic shift in world view that comes with the responsibility for another life. Fast-forward to January 2026. For Minnesotans, our prioritization changed when two of our neighbors were murdered in the streets by federal agents. After these events, my answer became: Focus on my community. If presented with two extra hours each day, I would spend them volunteering and helping to keep my neighbors safe.
“In February 2026, contemplating this fairy-tale scenario with colleagues from across the country, I felt an immense sense of pride for what we are already accomplishing in Minnesota even without two extra hours. We have reconfigured our work schedules to provide transportation for our Spanish-speaking daycare providers to make sure neighbors who care for our children get to work safety. We have spent days in subzero temperatures protesting peacefully and holding vigils for our fallen. We have shopped for groceries and delivered them to families afraid to leave their homes. We have hosted and attended trainings to learn how to operate safely in our new reality where personal rights and freedoms guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution are under siege.
“None of us have been given two extra hours, we’ve dug deep and found them. We will continue to find them until all the ice melts and it is spring in Minnesota.”
Many thanks to Marissa for those poignant, inspiring words.
I have two more updates. Emmanuel Tecuatl-Lee and James Tecuatl-Lee ’11 have moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where they hope to connect with other alumni. “We turned the move into a weeklong roadtrip from Austin, Texas, along with our white shepherd dog Dodo, visiting many alumni friends along the way,” says Emmanuel.
Bonita Längle and her partner, Nate, moved from Boston to Springfield, Vermont, in April 2025. Bonita writes, “We bought our first house here, a beautiful hundred-year-old arts and crafts style that we are enjoying renovating. We were married in 2023 and both changed our last names to Längle-Moore; Rochele Brown was my maid of honor and George Najjar ’15 was my bridesman. With the move, it’s nice to be back near the Green and grabbing a margarita from Molly’s.”
—Svati Narula, 2038 Hopi Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505; svatinarula@gmail.com
Back to 2013 Class Year
More of 2013 Class Notes
“ ‘What would you do if you had two extra hours every day?’ I glanced around at the faces of my coworkers as I considered the ice-breaker question and thought about my response. The simple question brought me on a journey, first back to mid-20s, as an overstressed, anxious medical student. Then, my answer was simple and immediate: Focus on myself. My prior self deeply craved a single hour to workout, cook a nice meal, or watch a TV show. Amid continuous exams and the constant nagging thoughts that I wasn’t working hard enough, an hour to relax was an elusive luxury. With no dependents or real responsibilities beyond pursuing my own education, this answer was appropriate for the time.
“Then, in 2023, my daughter was born and priorities shifted. Asked the same question after her birth, I would answer: Focus on my daughter. I smiled thinking about how we would spend the time reading her favorite book, walking to the lake, or swinging on the playground. My new answer reflected the seismic shift in world view that comes with the responsibility for another life. Fast-forward to January 2026. For Minnesotans, our prioritization changed when two of our neighbors were murdered in the streets by federal agents. After these events, my answer became: Focus on my community. If presented with two extra hours each day, I would spend them volunteering and helping to keep my neighbors safe.
“In February 2026, contemplating this fairy-tale scenario with colleagues from across the country, I felt an immense sense of pride for what we are already accomplishing in Minnesota even without two extra hours. We have reconfigured our work schedules to provide transportation for our Spanish-speaking daycare providers to make sure neighbors who care for our children get to work safety. We have spent days in subzero temperatures protesting peacefully and holding vigils for our fallen. We have shopped for groceries and delivered them to families afraid to leave their homes. We have hosted and attended trainings to learn how to operate safely in our new reality where personal rights and freedoms guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution are under siege.
“None of us have been given two extra hours, we’ve dug deep and found them. We will continue to find them until all the ice melts and it is spring in Minnesota.”
Many thanks to Marissa for those poignant, inspiring words.
I have two more updates. Emmanuel Tecuatl-Lee and James Tecuatl-Lee ’11 have moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where they hope to connect with other alumni. “We turned the move into a weeklong roadtrip from Austin, Texas, along with our white shepherd dog Dodo, visiting many alumni friends along the way,” says Emmanuel.
Bonita Längle and her partner, Nate, moved from Boston to Springfield, Vermont, in April 2025. Bonita writes, “We bought our first house here, a beautiful hundred-year-old arts and crafts style that we are enjoying renovating. We were married in 2023 and both changed our last names to Längle-Moore; Rochele Brown was my maid of honor and George Najjar ’15 was my bridesman. With the move, it’s nice to be back near the Green and grabbing a margarita from Molly’s.”
—Svati Narula, 2038 Hopi Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505; svatinarula@gmail.com