The Final Leg of the Race

Senioritis is real. It does exist. It is also highly infectious and can be fatal to many high school seniors’ grade-point averages and college plans.

Wikipedia describes it as the decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school, college, and graduate school careers”.

Even the most infallible, calculus-loving, homework-worshiping nerd, whose most prized possession is their copy of "A Brief History of Time"  written by Stephen Hawking can be worn down by the seemingly endless grind of four years of high school.

I would definitely know – I’ve been there.

Being a senior is the best year in high school but is also one of the most stressful and most demanding compared to any other. Keeping up with deadlines, the endless stream of paperwork and not to mention the increasingly difficult classes spell out its challenges.

I’m supposed to have a social life at the same time? Something has to go.

Being the rational and highly educated developing adults we occasionally sacrifice class, the option with the lowest level of priority. After all, I've been accepted to the college of my choice. I have two months until graduation. What do my grades matter right?

Being an extremely busy person year-round, it’s difficult not to get caught up in this line of thinking. Balancing classes, my extracurricular choir activities, time with my family and being the Lakes water polo captain is a recipe for stress and, in the long run, has the potential to jeopardize what really matters, my grades.

One thing that I have to keep in mind is that colleges require my final transcript, not to mention the upkeep of scholarships I've earned.

There’s one thing that keeps me motivated and hopefully inspires others as well. I look for the light at the end of the tunnel. No, not the train headlight coming your way, but the exciting future that lies ahead. Don’t let a measly two months uproot the four years of hard, mind-bending labor that you’ve put into your high school career.

It’s the final leg of the race – and I want to finish at the top.

Be here next week for more exciting escapades!