Intro to Life Beyond High School 101

“Senioritis, from the word senior plus the suffix -itis (which refers to inflammation but in colloquial speech is assumed to mean an illness), is a colloquial term used in the United States to describe the decreased motivation toward studies displayed by students who are nearing the end of their high school, college and graduate school careers.” (Wikipedia)

So what’s it like being a second-semester, fourth-quarter senior? Is senioritis real, and is it the real danger the gods-and-administrators-that-be say it is? Any attempt at boiling down this time in the high-school student’s life into a concise and easily understood is next to impossible, so I’ve decided that it’s best to bring it to you, the reader, in a multi-part series.

            Parents. Teachers. Classmates. Girls, Guys. Friends. Enemies. Bosses. Coaches. Teammates.  Admissions Deans. Scholarships (or lack thereof). The College Board. Work, School, Play, Video Games, Rest, Studying, Community Service, Athletics, Finances, Prom. Every single one of these plays it part in running one’s life. The world seems to be spinning faster than one can keep up. Maybe you are an organizational genius and can slow the world down to your speed; but for the majority that I certainly fall under, trying to spin with the world will only result in a nauseatingly dizzy fall on your face. All of these ingredients put together and put in the oven gives you a cake topped with some of the sweetest moments of your life, tainted by the bitter aftertaste of rude realizations and difficult decisions. Stay tuned, and I’ll bring you into the life of a senior one step at a time.