By Siddarth Suresh

Being a senior isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Everyone talks about how it’s the “easy” year of high school, but no one mentions how quickly the motivation fades once you hit winter break. At first it feels like a small slip. One assignment is missed, then another, and suddenly the idea of getting out of bed for first period feels like climbing Mount Everest.

A lot of seniors say the hardest part is staying focused after college decisions come out. As Talia Astwani (12) noted, “Getting my first college acceptance thus far really assured me that my future isn’t uncertain anymore.” The pressure seniors have carried for years suddenly disappears, and they’re left in this strange limbo space. It’s not that seniors stop caring. It’s more like the energy that pushed them through the last three years finally runs out, and they’re trying to finish the race on an empty gas tank.

Still, senioritis isn’t all that bad. Some people use the slower pace to spend more time with friends. Others finally try activities they didn’t have time for before. The last few months of high school feel different. Seniors start noticing the small things, like how classmates laugh at the same joke or how familiar the hallways have become, despite the school’s complicated layout. Ms. Taha reflected, “I’ve seen seniors change into more happy and joyful versions of themselves. It’s really cool to see.”

In the end, senioritis might just be a sign that seniors are ready for whatever comes next on their journeys. It’s messy and frustrating, but it also marks the end of a long, long chapter of schooling. Even on the days when motivation is gone, most seniors find their way through, motivated by graduation inching closer. Senior year isn’t perfect, but it’s owned by IA seniors, and they’re finishing it the best way they can.