Senioritis. To parents and teachers, it is an excuse for late work and bad grades.  To students, it’s a prominent part of our senior career.  While in the beginning of our high school journey we struggled to find excuses for bad grades, we now have plenty.  “I have noticed that throughout senior year I have given a lot less effort on school work compared to other years,” said senior Emily Turner.  From worrying about college essays, GPAs, scholarships, and athletics, there is little time to fret about turning in last night’s worksheet.

Senior year is the awkward transition from high school to college where we are expected to act as adults and yet still be responsible for all our high school expectations. Maintaining a normal sleep schedule and social life on top of this can be overwhelming.  Therefore, in order to breathe and feel some control in our lives, we focus on a few responsibilities at a time.  This is where the term “senioritis” comes from: an affliction on students characterized by a decline in performance.

Since we were little, we have been pressured to get into the right college or we will not do our best in life.  So now as seniors, that nightmare has become a reality and we are more stressed than ever that we will not get into our dream college.  So yes, I might not always study for my tests, and I might wait until last minute to do my assignments, but it is usually for a good cause. With the exception of some students, parents and teachers need to realize that if we get bad grades, it’s not just because we are undisciplined students; it is because we are so overwhelmed with everything this year has to offer.  “I feel like I’m really stressed out because I have so many expectations, so instead I take naps,” said Zayn DeAndrade.

After spending seven hours at a school that I have been at for four years, five days a week, I do not always want to go home and immediately start studying.  I want to finish my college and scholarship applications so I am not drowning in debt by the time I am 20 years old.  Yes, I do prioritize school.  However, sometimes I need to press pause on my to-do list in order to sustain my personal sanity.