by Lucy Kalkowski

Ellie Brown

Senior Ellie Brown is a transfer student from Duchesne Academy who came to Marian second semester of junior year. Marian drew her in due to the size of the student body and the opportunity to make new friends despite transferring late into the year.

The switch to Marian wasn’t easy. “The transfer was a little hard because I was at very different places in some of my classes, and it was harder getting used to the rules at Marian because of how much stricter it is with certain things like food and phones. I also had a hard time adjusting to the fact that school starts nearly an hour earlier here than at Duchesne,” Brown said.

When Brown visited Marian, she saw a surprising moment of community that contributed to her choice in transferring to Marian. “I would say the most unique thing is hugging during peace at Mass. I remember shadowing on a day with Mass, and seeing everyone hug each other during peace was something that made me happy and feel at home,” she said.

Brown transferred to Marian a little over a year ago and still feels the effects of being a transfer student. “I came at an awkward time where most people already knew each other, and I didn’t, but that doesn’t make me any less of a Crusader. I will say I still don’t know everyone’s names and faces and that definitely reminds me of the fact that I’m a transfer. I came from Duchesne, and I now go to Marian, but to me, that isn’t a negative thing; it’s part of my growth as a person, and I learned many things from both places. I still feel like a transfer student, but not in a way where I’m a fish out of water— just in a way that reminds me I’ve grown a lot in high school,” Brown said.

Transferring to Marian has brought many new and exciting experiences. But the best thing about Marian to Brown was “the friends I’ve made! I genuinely feel like I have people who are happy to be around me and vice versa. The friends I’ve made have made my time at Marian the most positive experience possible,” she said.

Upon reflection on why she transferred, Brown still appreciated her years at Duchesne. “I have no hate towards Duchesne— it just ended up not being the right place for me, and I’m just grateful that God led me to where I was meant to be. I’m grateful for my time there; it taught me a lot, both academically and about myself. I came to Marian at the time that was right for me, even if it wasn’t from freshman year. God put me in the right place at the right time,” Brown said.

 Genevieve Barnes

Senior Genevieve Barnes transferred to Marian from Bellevue West at the start of her sophomore year. She had shadowed both Marian and Mercy with her sister, junior Isabella Barnes before both deciding to go to Marian.

Transferring from a public school to a private school has its own challenges. “The transfer to Marian was difficult for me, at first, because I didn’t know anyone at the school and the curriculum was different from what I was learning in public school,” Barnes said. “It was like what you were learning [sophomore year] I had already learned. And what I didn’t learn, you had already been taught.”

Marian holds many elaborate traditions that set it apart from other schools and are yet another thing for transfer students to adjust to. “The most unique experience I’ve had at Marian was definitely my first Field Day and my first Surprise Day. At first, I thought it was weird and didn’t really want to be a part of it. But then I was made a part of it and it was an amazing experience,” Barnes said.

For Barnes, the openness and variety of interests of the Marian community surprised her. “The Marian community is very welcoming and diverse. When I first came to Marian everyone was very welcoming but I kind of assumed everyone was the same and that I wouldn’t find my people. After being here for a little, I realized that there is a little bit of everyone here and that is a very diverse and welcoming community,” Barnes said.

Her three years at Marian have given Barnes plenty of time to adjust and immerse herself into the school community. “I do not feel like a transfer student anymore, sometimes I do have moments that I don’t know what something is or community experiences I’ve missed out on, like freshman Field Day, but overall I feel like I have always been here and that this is the place I belong,” Barnes said.

Nyah Bell

Senior Nyah Bell has a unique transfer experience. She came to Marian as a freshman, but transferred out sophomore year before coming back second semester junior year.

“Transferring back wasn’t really hard. I feel like I was more excited to see all my old friends. I like seeing how happy they were to see me come back. I felt like coming back second semester was…I thought it was just kind of weird to adjust to the teachers and like the work too,” Bell said.

Bell had transferred to Westview High School, part of the Omaha Public School community. Coming back to her old school brought back the unique traditions she missed sophomore year. “The most unique experience is probably Field Day and Surprise Day because in OPS we don’t really have those types of days,” Bell said. Field Day is her favorite part about Marian and it’s a part of her favorite week of school.

Bell’s classmates also made a huge impact on her. “The Marian community is definitely something to remember. My class[mates] all know each other and we all know who to go to for certain things. And just being able just to go to your classmates and just ask a simple question and they’re so happy to answer it for you…it’s just really impactful and I really do love my class,” Bell said.

Reflecting on her high school journey, Bell appreciates her time at Marian. “Transferring to a private school definitely has a higher standard of education because in OPS you can really just show up. [Here,] you really have to put in your time into the work and actually study and actually find your open space. And I feel like Marian really has prepared me for the future, and I can’t wait to see what the outcome is,” Bell said.