Contrary to popular belief, senior year is more difficult than junior year. Junior year gets the stigma of being the hardest year in high school only because that is the year colleges look at the most. In comparison, senior year includes college applications, increased rigor in your class schedule, and the pressure to make senior year the best year of high school.
As a senior, the school year’s first quarter was intense, making it seem like a never-ending cycle of work. As college deadlines approached, school seemed overwhelming, with students like myself feeling buried in work. One observation I have had this year is my classes jumped to work immediately rarely slowing down throughout the semester. Along with the increased difficulty in academics, there is also social pressure to attend school events as it is your last chance to go as a student. The lack of time paired with the increasing amount of things to accomplish led to more stress than there should be for a high school student.
Furthermore, the college process is difficult, time-consuming, and tedious. It includes essays, taking the ACT or SAT, and many other elements. It is time-consuming and nerve-racking. Even after these applications are submitted students are still worried about college decisions and planning out their future. Senior year is a pinnacle time: it is when students are forced to take a step into adulthood because many will be living on their own next year. The uncertainty of next year causes uneasiness as many don’t know where they will be next year.
The hardest part that affects students the most is that senior year is a year of lasts; it is an emotional and sentimental year for many, with emotions running high. It is a time of acceptance, of recognizing that you will not be surrounded by the same peers next year. As a result, I feel pressure to do everything to the best of my ability. For example, I was determined to make this year’s Homecoming the best one because it was my last. Students never realize the toll of this pressure until they are forced to feel it for themselves.
Senior year is a nostalgic time and I advise all seniors to enjoy every second, but I will not miss the first quarter of senior year. I am glad I can put the anxiety of applications behind me and refocus on school while I await college decisions. I can say that without a doubt, considering all of these stresses on top of each other, senior year is the most difficult year.