The beginning of the school year is exciting for seniors in general because of the newfound independence they gain. The last firsts are what seniors either dread or look forward to the most. The last first day of school, the last first football game, the last first struggle to leave the parking lot at 2:15 — all of which have an emotional effect on senior students.
Seniors, however, tend to focus on these pinnacle events and ignore their current schoolwork or anything that does not involve college or their current social life.
College essays and applications become topics of conversation. And to be honest, I personally care more about what colleges my friends are applying to than their test score on the most recent science exam.
Nevertheless, the focus becomes so angled towards making the most of senior year and getting admitted to the college of our dreams that we quickly grow susceptible to a bad case of senioritis.
Homework is forgotten, studying becomes less frequent, and senior skip days are more eagerly anticipated than Fridays. Seniors tend to do just enough to keep their grades steady and their activity calendars filled for their college admissions offers to glance at — but not enough to consider themselves exemplary students.
I have always heard the saying “school comes first” from my parents and educators, and while I do believe school is a vital part of my future, I have come to find that, as a senior myself, school has lost its status as the front runner of my activities and is far from the first thing on my mind. School has been replaced by Homecoming plans, by what everyone is wearing to the football game on Friday, or by how to split up the payment for the house we are renting for senior week.
School is important and what you do in your grade school years shapes the person you become and your chances of dream colleges or careers, but as seniors we tend to ignore this factor because the first thing on our minds is “I’m not a kid anymore.” Reality sets in and the scary truth of soon being a freshman all over again becomes apparent.
While all of this is true, the reality of life is like this: When running a race, a runner will not slow down and give up once they see the finish line; they continue to push until the finish line is crossed. Seniors should focus on ending their year on a high note and not giving up just because they feel like it will not matter to the colleges who accepted their applications. Colleges still look at and care about the effort we give in the beginning of the year through to the end.
And none of this is to suggest that seniors who plan to enter the military, pursue a trade, or enter the workforce after high school are any less prone to the temptations of senioritis. We’re all at risk.
A successful student will find a balance in the work they do and put thought into splitting their time between academics and their social life. Maybe school is not the most important thing in the race of activities, but it should not drop out altogether. Students are still able to plan Homecoming and complete math homework. If senior year should be the most important and enjoyable year for students, their grades should reflect that.
