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Diversity, education and compassion have always been core parts of the Marian experience. Marian’s annual Culture Day occurred on April 10. There were 31 students with booths representing 13 different countries and five different continents during this year’s celebration. 

Mrs. Ty Nared, the Director of Belonging, helps to organize Culture Day and believes the celebration helps to promote diversity among students. 

“Culture Day is important because it gives our community the chance to celebrate our differences. At Marian, we talk a lot about our values—like community, compassion and empowerment- and Culture Day brings those to life in such a vibrant way. It affirms students’ identities and reminds us all that belonging means being seen and celebrated for exactly who you are,” Nared said.

“My favorite part [of organizing Culture Day] is watching students light up when they get to represent their heritage, whether through food, music, dance or even fashion. There’s something special about watching someone proudly share a part of themselves and feel supported in doing so,” Nared said.

Freshman Aiman Alam represented the country of Pakistan during this year’s Culture Day. 

Alam was excited to share different aspects of Pakistani culture, especially the food. She described Pakistani food as “flat bread with some vegetables, beans and chicken curry.” Her favorite Pakistani food is Biryani which is spicy rice with chicken and potatoes.

Sophomore Hanna Loal represented the country of South Sudan and also enjoys her culture’s food. 

“Mandaz is similar to donuts but topped with powdered sugar. It is made from water, sugar, milk, yeast, and flour. Molokhia is a type of jute plant, and a dish made from the leaves of corchorus olitorius. Ful medames is a traditional breakfast stew made from fava beans cooked with olive oil, cumin, garlic, and lemon juice,” Loal said.

Loal was excited to share some fun facts about her country of origin. “South Sudan is the world’s newest nation. They gained independence on July 9, 2011,” Loal said.

Alam was also ready to share facts about her country. “Many people do not know that Pakistan is home to the world’s oldest civilization, the Indus Valley Civilization, which began over 5,000 years ago,” Alam said. 

Not only did Alam want to share fun facts, but she also wanted to correct a common misconception about Pakistani society. 

“Many people believe that in Pakistan women are oppressed and don’t have a voice, but that is not true. Many women are educated and strong. Many are doctors, police officers and leaders in society,” Alam said. 

Alam was not afraid to express her admiration for many of Pakistan’s barrier-breaking women. 

“Benazir Bhutto was the first female prime minister of Pakistan. She broke many gender barriers and stood up for women’s rights. Malala Yousafzai is also from Pakistan and is the youngest Nobel Prize winner. She fought bravely for women’s education and advocated for gender equality, peace and made a great impact on Pakistan and the rest of the world. Fatima Jinnah, known as the mother of Pakistan, helped her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah and they both created the nation of Pakistan. She even ran for president and empowered millions of women,” Alam said.

Culture Day is not just important for those who are showing off their culture, it provides an important educational opportunity for all students. 

“Culture Day creates a space for conversations that might not happen otherwise. It invites students to go beyond surface-level understanding and dig into the ‘why’ behind cultural traditions and experiences. Over the years, I’ve seen students walk away with more questions and more appreciation for people who come from different backgrounds than their own,” Nared said. 

Culture is not just something that is reserved for special occasions; it impacts the daily lives of those who experience it. 

Diversity is also something that can be celebrated daily according to Nared. “It starts with asking questions and making space for all voices to be heard. We can practice inclusion by building friendships with people who have different lived experiences,” Nared said. 

By showcasing traditions, food and history from around the world, Culture Day continues to promote cultural awareness and highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion.

For more photos, visit this post: https://mariandigitalnetwork.com/2025/05/07/students-celebrate-culture/