Column by J1 Reporter Eva Kriener

A central piece of Marian tradition is Marian Field Day. Many students from other schools in the Omaha area gather to see Marian girls compete for the bragging rights of having won said event. The question is, however, does Marian’s famed Field Day really deserve to be held to such a high standard when it seems to hurt more than help?

Picture this: it is 7 in the morning on a regular school day in the middle of September. Field Day isn’t until April, but you already hear chatter about what the theme should be, the demonstration ideas, etc. 

It’s September, why do people care about Field Day so much? you think to yourself. 

This is the unfortunate reality for many who dislike Field Day. 

Marian girls put such an extreme emphasis on this event to the point where you nearly feel shunned for disliking it. It is understandable, as Field Day is a very important tradition, but should we really go as far as to hate on someone for not having that peppy Field Day energy?

I have disliked Field Day since day one. As much as I love seeing the classes come together to create amazing works, I have never been a fan of the upbeat, in-your-face spirit that people seem to force onto each other.

Despite many girls being excited for this event, it clearly holds its flaws. Over the two years of Field Week I have experienced, I have had my fair share of negative experiences surrounding it.

I have talked to numerous people who have explained their uber-high stress levels are as a result of trying to finish each aspect of Field Day. Whether it be the stress of trying to finish walls in two days, get the demo on point, or even balancing homework and your committee assignment, it seems as though Field Day may have too much of an emphasis placed on it. 

Marian students already have enough stress in their lives, and focusing so much on Field Day just adds more unwanted negative feelings. Of course, I recognize that Field Day is important to many people and I am certainly not suggesting that we get rid of it, I am, however, proposing that we lower our expectations on it. 

Speaking of expectations, many girls have a high standard set for their grade in order to win Field Day. As we saw with the 2022 results, many classes were upset with the way everything turned out. This added a level of unnecessary tension that can be felt through some people’s attitudes towards field day, even months later. 

A somewhat controversial statement needs to be shared about Field Day: it isn’t that important. 

Ten, even 20 years down the road, Field Day will not matter as much as some think it will. In the grand scheme of things, it is nothing more than a “friendly” competition experience you had in high school. 

As Principal Susie Sullivan likes to remind us, she was a fourth place Freshman Flea. The friendly competition still lives in her memory, but how important is it really to remember that I was a Freshman Pirate?

While Field Day can build a bond between students, it also creates jealousy and spite as well. It is up to us to keep the tradition alive, but to diminish our expectations as well.