ErinCramer

In a few short months, the Class of 2026 will become the newest Marian alumnae. After spending four years at this place they call home, they will each walk beyond Marian’s doors and embark on new and exciting journeys. 

However, for many students, the next steps are completely unknown. For this reason, Marian hosted the Class of 2025 day, an opportunity for college freshmen and past Marian students to share their experiences and impart pieces of advice. 

The Class of 2025 defied expectations during their senior year. With only 137 students, they yielded $32.6 million in scholarship money, a testament to the work ethic instilled by this school. 

Furthermore, they proved the pride in a Marian education, ending their high school careers with a cumulative weighted GPA of 3.94. On the other hand, students of the Class of 2025 followed the past pattern and (approximately) split down the middle between in-state and out-of-state for their college decisions. 

Among all of these schools, from California to New York, the most popular intended majors were Health and Life Science as well as Business and Finance. 

On Jan. 8, 63 students from the Class of 2025 returned to Marian to answer questions for the current juniors and seniors. The activity is useful because both classes are either preparing for the college selection process or are in the trenches of it. The upperclassmen gathered during a CAB in the Performing Arts Center and listened to the alumni discuss their college experiences so far, ranging from the biggest challenges to the size of workload (or lack thereof). For 75 minutes, the alumnae answered burning questions while offering assurance. 

At Marian, a belief in striving for excellence is instilled in every girl who walks its halls. 

 However, occasionally that belief transforms into extreme perfectionism. Creighton freshman Abigail McGuire struggled with the misconception that anything but perfection meant she couldn’t pursue her dreams. “I was so scared. If I got below a 90 in a class, I truly believed I wasn’t going to college,” McGuire said. Even after recently changing the grading scale to reflect the rigor of the classes, Marian students still experience doubt, just as any other high school student looking towards the future. 

“I never thought I would be as independent as I have become,” McGuire said, “I was worried I would be the person to skip classes or be late on a deadline like I was in high school, but I have yet to do either of those things.” 

Burnout can be incredibly real in high school, juggling deadlines with activities and a social life. But college is entirely different altogether. “I am so different than I used to be. I got the opportunity to reinvent myself,” McGuire said.

In short, college is a different world and a different beast than high school. While students gain the ability to choose their schedule, they can lose many pieces of themselves in the process. “I had such deep connections at Marian, and I’m starting to adjust to not having them around constantly,” McGuire said. 

Spending four years with your classmates tends to bring girls of all different backgrounds closer together and form deep relationships that are carried through life. But with everyone having different paths and experiences, it can be incredibly scary to imagine a life without your best friends. However, there is hope through perseverance.

“I’m finding friends in completely unexpected places. I learned how much you can enjoy a place when you are open to new experiences and not nostalgic for old ones,” McGuire said. By going outside what is comfortable, new opportunities can arise that one never thought was possible. 

Also attending the Class of 2025 Day was San Francisco State triathlete Lucy Ambrose. Ambrose chose her school based on the fact that it was far away, something that can be extremely frightening for most. 

“I wanted to go somewhere that was outside my comfort zone and would challenge me in different ways,” Ambrose said. “It is hard to be in a new environment, but it is so cool to have no expectations for yourself and explore new beginnings.”

High expectations are nothing new for Marian students. But in order to truly find yourself, you have to let your expectations fade away. Everyone’s journey is unique and incredibly special, and no one student’s experience will be like another. 

For juniors and seniors, the journey can feel like a weight, constantly dragging you down. But taking a step back and changing your perception can garner gratitude and an appreciation for where you are. 

 “I am someone who likes to check things off and it was so hard for me to have an enormous decision hanging over my head,” Ambrose said. “Put your trust in God’s timing and know that you will end up where you are supposed to be. Remember, stress is a privilege.”

What may just seem like a normal Thursday could be the deciding factor in someone’s future. The past classes become not only a resource, but an example of the effect the Marian sisterhood and education can have on our lives. 

From how to make friends to how to write a paper, a classmate at Marian becomes a sister in the real world, someone who is always there to lend a helping hand. While the Class of 2025 may not be in the halls, they can always be found.