Gareth Liu ‘25
REPORTER
Artwork by Sean Mayer
Senioritis. Almost all seniors experience some level of it, and I bet even a couple of juniors are already feeling it. But should we fight against senioritis or give in just a bit?
One of my friends said that they “personally think it’s okay to slack off a little but not forget all your responsibilities.” This idea is the general sentiment amongst seniors at the high school: that there is merit in advocating for a balanced approach. After years of rigorous coursework and extracurriculars, combined with the mounting pressure of college applications, seniors undoubtedly deserve some breathing room. Taking a step back in the spring to savor the final moments of high school can be important for mental well-being and recovery from the stressful fall semester, preventing future burn-out.
However, this idea of rest should not translate into a complete abandonment of effort.
Sure, your grades have always been YOUR grades. Everyone holds themselves to a certain standard, and if your standard drops a bit in senior year, that is ultimately your choice. Nevertheless, the habits formed during senior year can set the tone for future success. Easing up too much can lead to a rude awakening when the demands of higher education or the workforce come knocking (and of course, there’s the possibility of getting rescinded if you plan on attending college). Instead of fully slacking off in terms of academics, seniors should use this time in their classes as an opportunity to truly explore passions and engage in meaningful projects, focusing more on developing their interests/goals rather than their grades.
In contrast to academics, one’s extracurricular responsibilities that can impact other people should never be neglected. If you’re a senior, do you remember being a freshman, waiting to hear back from those clubs you signed up for at that first October Activities Fair? Maybe the club leader sent an email promptly within a few weeks; on the other hand, maybe they did not send one at all? Think about how much it meant to you when someone actively took the time to welcome you and help you get involved. Now that we’re often the ones in these leadership positions, we have a responsibility to ensure that younger students are given full opportunities to pursue their interests. Senioritis might tempt us to procrastinate, disregard, or forget things, but our roles in clubs, teams, and organizations directly affect others. Therefore, we cannot let our propensity to “slack off” hurt the futures of our younger classmates.
Ultimately, senioritis is a natural feeling, but it’s important to find balance and fight the urge to disregard too many of our duties as high school students. Taking time to enjoy senior year is well-deserved, but we owe it to ourselves and others to stay engaged. By maintaining effort in both personal growth and our responsibilities to our school community, we ensure that our final year is both memorable and meaningful.
