Clare Adams ’21 and Leah Adams ’23 share a remarkable legacy—they are third-generation valedictorians, with their mother Margie Birchler Adams ’82 and grandmother Mary Jane Birchler (a graduate of another all-girls Catholic school) paving the way. Their stories underscore the enduring values of academic excellence and personal growth nurtured across generations at Marian.

Why Marian?

Margie: My parents were strong proponents of Catholic education. My older siblings attended Marian and Brother Rice, so I only applied to Marian. I appreciated the single-sex environment that removed distractions to learning and opened up leadership opportunities. These experiences encouraged confidence, which naturally led to leadership opportunities in college.
Clare: The sense of community Marian offers can be felt in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, or anywhere the people of Marian are. I made lots of great friends and memories, which I will always cherish.
Leah: I had attended St. Regis for K-8, so I knew many people going into high school, and I appreciated the smaller class size and religious education. It felt big enough that I was able to meet lots of different classmates and learn from their experiences, but small enough so that I could form genuine connections with the faculty and staff and feel comfortable with the school environment.

What similarities and differences do you see among your sisters’ high school experiences?

Clare: I set goals for myself academically, and they led me to be valedictorian, which was a proud accomplishment for me. All of us are very studious and dedicated to our work. Leah and I engaged in very similar classes & extracurriculars like Marian Melodies, Marian Rice Players, and International Thespian Society, and Ella seems to be following a similar path. COVID interrupted my junior year, so all of my senior events like football and prom were different than in "normal" years.
Leah: My family has always been overachievers. This was just the culture in which we were raised, and it has pushed me harder to be the best version of myself I can be. My experience at Marian was unique because I have ADHD, so the pace at which I learned and studied was different from my sister and mother. At Marian, I felt very safe and confident in my ability to learn because of the teachers and accommodations staff. With Marian’s smaller student body, obtaining the accommodations I needed after my diagnosis junior year was easy, and my unique situation was valued and validated by all teachers and staff. The faculty and staff's support played a crucial role in my success at Marian.

Your sister, Ella ’27, has three more years ahead of her at Marian. What advice would you like to offer her?

Margie: Enjoy your academic and co-curricular experiences. Find students who like to do things that you like to do. Try to get to know your peers throughout your four years, and don’t wait until Senior Retreat to connect with some of your classmates!
Clare: Be open to trying new things and meeting new people (some of your strongest friendships may not be made until junior or senior year). Also, enjoy high school while you are there because there’s no other time like it.
Leah: Do the best you can while staying healthy and putting yourself first. There have been many times where I stayed awake until the early hours of the morning to get a good grade or do well on an exam. It can feel like the end of the world to fail, but at the end of the day, your physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being are so much more valuable than a good grade on an exam. Try your best and only your best, not other people’s best.

Currently, Clare and Leah are students at the University of Michigan. Clare is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Ross School of Business, having recently completed a summer internship with Wayfair. Leah intends to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy through the Ford School of Public Policy, along with double minors in Music and Crime and Justice.

This article first appeared in the The Marian Monitor Vol. 47, No.2 issue.