Senior year is finally here. It’s weird to all of us, including me, but what does senior year mean? Thanks to Facebook and Twitter I know how everyone feels. I am excited this is my final year just like everyone else, but just because I am aware this is my senior year and I realize what is going to happen after we graduate in nine months, I don’t post it all over social media. I’m almost sick of scrolling down my news feed and reading, “I can’t believe this is my senior year… I really have to make this count.” Okay, we all get it. I want to point out what senior year also consists of besides “making it count.”
What do those three words even mean? They have a different meaning to everyone, and I’m sure a lot of those people didn’t mean they will be doing scholarly work. I’m not sure I even take “making it count” in that way. I feel like just because we are still in high school, people believe it’s their last year to make mistakes and do crazy things. In reality, that ends when the age 18 comes around, which for some of us has already happened. In my opinion, “making it count” should mean that this year is our last one together in this very high school; we can all have fun, but college is right around the corner. Our grades and attitudes have to count.
Speaking of fun, a lot of the seniors don’t know how to make it fun for everyone else. By that I mean some people are close-minded and judgmental. The seniors last year were all mature and ended up becoming closer with one another. Our class doesn’t consist of cliques, but of two different divisions: groups that talk to nobody but each other, and the rest of the class who will talk to anyone whenever. Bullying isn’t the word I’m looking for; it’s more like childish behavior.
For example: During class, a student will say something that could potentially be awkward or weird. Another group of students will snicker or whisper under their breath leaving that student to feel intimidated or put down. This is not what senior year is about. Make the intimidated become comfortable; give attention to those who deserve it. None of us are better than the others, and I feel like that’s what most of every year of school has been about within my class. Certain groups of seniors are more “popular” than others, but what makes you popular? Is it the fact that you try to love and care for everybody that comes your way, or because you’re so rebellious that people know you for that? I suggest that everyone rethinks their placement in this school and realize that we are all equally important. No one should be judging or talking about anyone.
I would like to say one more thing: senioritis is an actual sickness. I know that I am a culprit of this because while I sit in study hall, I daydream about what’s for dinner or whisper to friends. I should be working harder as all of us should be, but it’s hard to. It’s our senior year, our last year before we are forced to be adults. We just don’t feel like doing school anymore, but this is an important year and we have to own up to it. Just like any sickness, you have the power to fight and work to overcome it.
I remember every year in band, seniors would get first pick for everything. They would scream “senior” and rush to the front of the line or get dismissed first. All this time we’ve been waiting for our turn. Well seniors, it’s our turn. We can either shove it off and dislike each other on the way to graduation, or make it the best year we have ever had and do it together. I choose to make it the best and do it together.