Opinion by ElliePeter

More than 1,000 hours, 36 months, four years. The time that we have spent together has resulted in beautiful, kind, smart, thoughtful and wonderful women. We, as seniors, have been given not only the gift of Marian, but the gift of each other. Together we have taken the roads less traveled, opened doors previously closed and won Field Day as juniors. 

Despite navigating COVID our freshman year and dealing with the literal division, the Class of 2024 has become so close it scares administrators. What that says about us, who knows, but at least it’s a good scare. We’ve got nothing to worry about when it comes to making friends in college. 

One of the most eye-opening parts of retreat (which happened on March 15-16), while not spoiling anything, is the realization that in a few months, we won’t see our school friends every day, if ever. This realization is so bittersweet, with the sweet promise of a beautiful future and the bitterness of a life left behind. 

Marian is not only known for Field Day or Surprise Day. It is known for the girl power, the support, the accomplishments, the sports, and the dance parties. While other schools may peer in and make fun, only Crusies know the truth of these hallways. 

Our support of each other is loud. Instead of gentle snaps for each other, for our achievements and feelings, we clap loudly and proudly, and bark, too. There is no shame in the Class of ’24’s love for each other. 

Based on our success in high school, college will be no different. College is a whole new world, one that is big and scary. Marian is an easy place to feel safe, which makes it hard to leave. While the transition to college feels scary and overwhelming, it brings along good changes and opportunities. As Mariella Virgillito points out, dorms are just one big sleepover. It will be okay. 

It’s important to remember that not everyone feels the same about our next chapter. Some of us are ready to hang up our white Keds and forget Demos. Being ready to leave Marian is nothing to feel bad about. Our friends have already made their impact on us, which we will take with pride. 

The best part of life is that we are mosaics of each other. We ebb and flow around each other, picking up bits and pieces that make something beautiful. As the Class of ’24, we are made of success, friendship, hard times and everything beautiful. Who we have become over our four years is something to be proud of. 

While our past is solid and set, our future is not promised in the path we’ve chosen. We can and should make our five-year plans, but if we fall down, Marian will always be there for us. Graduation does not equal severed ties, and between the alumnae network and social media, there is no Marian girl left behind. 

The greatest comfort in these changing times is that while we may not be together much longer, we have each other now in these formative years. The greatest gift of Marian is watching us change, grow and become who we are now and hopefully who we will become. 

There will be no greater joy than watching each other carve out our places in this world. We will accomplish great things and change the world for the better. It is easy to say that you had a good high school experience. However, it is much more special to say that you went to Marian.

While graduation is sneaking up on us, remember to take this time slowly. Our four years of high school may have often been taken for granted, but our futures will be proof of the strong bonds that we have built. No matter who you are, what you become, and where you end up, one thing is clear: You will always find your way back home.