Everyone has heard of the saying, “senioritis is real,” but no one truly prepares you when you have to actually experience it. Especially when it starts a year earlier during junior year. It is a slow, but unforgiving buildup of procrastination and dread when it comes to even the idea of getting in the car and driving to school, let alone doing any quality schoolwork, or genuinely studying instead of the glance at notes 5 minutes before the assessment, and gaslighting yourself into believing you’re ready. And then when you receive your grade and it reflects the minimal studying you did, you can’t find it in yourself to get worked up about it. It’s a horrendous, unavoidable cycle.  

It hits when you least expect it. When you come back from Christmas break junior year, it slowly starts to creep in. The gradual start of procrastination. Waking up and deciding you can check in late. Coming in late going from first period to fourth period, to staying at home instead. At this point, the only deterrent from falling completely off the deep end is having to take exams. That is the only thread holding you to the school for dear life. But then the year ends, and that thread snaps, because now you’re a senior.  

Instead of waiting for the second semester, it smacks you in the face right as you walk in the door that first day of school. The days get longer, the work gets pushed back further, and the college decisions start rolling in. And once that acceptance email comes, it becomes even harder to show up to school and give any effort at all. But it hits an all-time low during that cursed second semester. The transcript needed for colleges is finalized, any classes left are filler courses,  

online, or by a small chance, a course needed to graduate. But at that point, the home stretch is in sight. Those exams don’t seem so bad since the fourth quarter is only 25 days, and all you can give is the bare minimum until you finally walk that stage. But you made it, you graduated, and it was all worth it.  

But when you hear that silly phrase, and you think you are the exception, don’t get too cocky, because those who don’t believe are those who are hit the worst. Be aware and do your homework while you still can.