Caroline Potter

Many seniors have the temptation to forget about school and enjoy the last bits of high school.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s seniors are in the final stretch of their last year in high school. With summer approaching in four months, the temptation to forget about school and enjoy the last bits of high school is common for many.

After almost four years of high school, many seniors are starting to check out of school mentally. Senior spring break is almost a month away, and the end-of-year senior festivities create ongoing excitement. The anticipation for the school year to end and waiting to move on to a new era of their life is a common feeling. “I would say it’s getting more difficult because it’s frustrating when teachers are still assigning a lot and talking about the future when this is our last semester,” senior Frankie Hyde said.

As college decisions have been announced, many are fully committed to their college of choice. The question “Do I have to focus on school anymore?” is a repeated thought. Senior sliding is a reward after three and a half years of constant studying, volunteering, and being involved in extracurricular activities to make college applications full of impressive stats and awards. “We’ve been working so hard since freshman year, so still having the same drive as last year feels unnecessary,” Hyde said.

But for some, this is not the case. Many are still awaiting their college acceptance. Keeping a strong academic record for the second semester is extremely helpful in bettering the chances of getting into a college with a pending acceptance. Having to remain studious during the last months of the school year is a challenge for many. “I fear losing my [merit-based] scholarships so I have to maintain a good academic standing,” senior Harriet White said.

Nevertheless, many seniors are burnt out from the stress of college decisions, the rigor of senior year classes, and the activities they are involved in. The final stretch of the second semester of senior year feels longer than it is for many. “There’s no motivation to do anything anymore, and none of my friends do anything anymore,” White said.

Although students feel that school is no longer a top priority, many teachers still push students to stay on top of their assignments. “Teachers shouldn’t get mad if you’re not going to do your work because a lot of people are already committed to colleges, and it’s the end of things,” Hyde said.