After conversing with several classmates of mine, we discovered the inconvenient truth about a demon we face as we approach midterms and our final (meaningful) quarter of high school. Some call it senioritis, others call it disgraceful or just plain lazy. But no matter what label is used, those who are affected by it feel it is a lingering burden.
Understand, the problem is real. I personally refer to it as “the plague”.
During this time of the year, college results begin to roll in. Early decision and early action acceptance letters usually mean commitment to a particular school, and for the students who are graced with such a message, the incentives to continue trying in school no longer remain.
Anna Fiolek ’13, who got accepted Early Decision to Elon University in late November, especially felt the burden lift after receiving her letter. “I’m kind of worn out from first quarter, which I’m starting to notice. Knowing where I’m going is pretty reassuring. I will still try, just not get stressed out about it,” she said.
After deciding on the University of Colorado at Boulder, senior Matty Campbell has decided to be productive in other ways. “I can be a great friend and hang with my pals, help mom out with the groceries, and give myself some ‘me time’,” Campbell said.
Grades and test scores may drop, but no matter; what’s done is done. This simple fact is mighty cumbersome to the majority of students left behind, who have yet to finish their high school years.
It’s very stressful and weird thinking of college as your number one priority, when grades have been the number one priority since the beginning of high school,” said Will Smith, one of the many seniors on his “grind”.
David Hoffman, a senior who theoretically is repeating his last year of high school at Staples, lost most of his good friends last year to college, and added his perspective:
“I guess with a bunch of my friends from last year in college and having visited a few of them, my high school drive diminished a little.
Though most people (and urban dictionary) define “senioritis” as a second-semester disease, it feels to many, including myself, as though it is a very real 2nd quarter virus.
Second quarter senioritis is very real,” said Gaiane Offredo ’13. Literally, everyone is thinking about college a majority of the time and don’t see the point in trying as hard in school anymore because we are past the first quarter, and grades aren’t much of a burden anymore.”
The struggle to cope with senioritis is dealt with by many day-to-day as they fight (or embrace) that sensation of not caring.
Zach Morrison ’13 brilliantly paraphrased the mood of many seniors in this, as some would call it, transitional period:
“We would look for a cure [to senioritis], but, frankly, we don’t give a damn”.
