As the end third quarter nears, and future plans solidify, the seniors of Franklin are entering their bittersweet finale. As such, the dreaded senoritis is setting in. For any lucky, ignorant souls: senioritis is an ailment that occurs when a senior’s head is lost wandering in the future, making attendance and schoolwork especially difficult.
What has struck me throughout the conversations I’ve had, was the notion that senoritis was a myth or perhaps an excuse for the less academically inclined; let me tell you, my friends—senoritis doesn’t discriminate. Ye youngins better heed this advice, because come second semester of your senior year, you won’t recognize yourself.
Jameson Franken, a Franklin senior attending University of Oregon in the fall of 2022, said, “[we] are so close yet so far from graduation;” and as a result, the usual anxiety surrounding grades is fading. This can be a good thing, as it’s wonderful to relax and enjoy your remaining time, but as Avi Israel-Davis (12) put it: “I have a scholarship to uphold and so that’s been difficult to balance.”
Seniors Milo Kanz and Mipam Jampa say that they are pretty much always late to class, especially in the morning. Kanz said, “I got to school early today and just sat in my car, and then I was late to class.” This seems to be a pattern; IF you aren’t skipping class, you probably weren’t there for the whole class time. Sophie Locker (12) told me she “wakes up two and a half hours early, and is somehow still late.” Personally, this phenomenon has been magnified by the drear and rain. I predict that as the weather improves there will be movement from lateness to absence altogether. The clouds may make you sleepy, but soon the sun will draw you to the river, ice cream, parties, and lazy lounging.
Unlike the many seniors before us, the classes of 2021-2025 have missed at least a year of in-person high school, which has had various effects on mental health and social dynamics, and so this makes senioritis more complicated for this year’s class. Sofia Kidd (12) said, “we missed junior year and I feel like a lot of stuff usually goes down senior year, so I’m not as connected to this class and the school because we all went through that by ourselves at home.” Kidd says that the pandemic exacerbated her senioritis, because the burnout has been constant.
For some, this predicament has created an urge to make up for lost time. Israel-Davis said, “we missed a lot of landmark moments as teenagers. I have been prioritizing my social life over school because of that.” Franken said that the pandemic made her appreciate her independence as well, and helped her become closer to her friends: “I have become anti-social at school and don’t really like to chat with people outside of my circle which is something I need to work on, but I also have this mindset that I’m graduating in two-ish months anyway so why make new friends?” Maybe someday there will be a Buzzfeed quiz along the lines of What Kind of Covid Kid Would You Have Been? The Inner Circle Gal? The Plant Mom? The Discord Lover? The Puzzle Binch? The Happy-Lonely Wench? The Now-My-Parents-Know-I’m-Always-Stoned Sis?
It is a beautiful thing to be excited about your future; it means growth and opportunity. Kidd, an overachieving student taking five AP classes, says she’s ready to be “doing adult things, things that matter in the world.” Franken says, “Moral of the story is I’m extremely excited to graduate. I’m literally like a little kid waiting for Christmas.” The gift of freedom is a sweet one.
You are your own coming of age movie. Whether keeping your grades up to your standards, or spending time with family before heading off to do new things, please do what will make you happiest in the long run, because this time is precious (as long as you aren’t jeopardizing your diploma).
