Senoritis- it's a real disease.
As I casually strolled about facebook (my normal hiatus from Sunday night procrastination...I mean homework), I found myself itching to press the 'like' button under Collin Murphy's status: "Senoritis". What is senioritis? Unlike any other illness that ends in 'itis', it is actually a psuedo-disease of procrastination, impatience, etc. Okay, like right there. Instead of thinking for more than twenty seconds about another word to describe it, I used the good ol' 'etc'. But anyway, I didn't press that 'like' button. When I stopped to consider the fact that I was sitting on facebook, yet again, contemplating the literal mounds of homework sitting unfinished on various surfaces about my room, and not doing anything about it but feeling guilty, I couldn't bring myself to even look at the word 'Senioritis' anymore. I wish it were that easy, to have an excuse for everything I'm not doing. But it's not. Sure, I believe that us high school veterans are more likely to suffer from boredom. I mean, we have been walking down the same hallways, listening to the same voices, eating the same food, and complaining about the same homework for four years. But thinking about it now, I wish that I had been more appreciative and hard working during those years. Isn't it funny that you don't realize your own potential until it's too late? That's what it feels like to me, anyway. 'Senioritis' is bittersweet- it's the unquenchable thirst for freedom from the monotony of highschool, and a stabbing fear of what that freedom actually means. Now, I don't normally have these internal struggles on facebook, because usually facebook doesn't require too much thought process. But this boy's simple one word status made me realize how much I might've missed out on, just because I chose to blame my dwindling efforts on 'Senioritis.' Call it my second wind, because I feel a change in the air. We're graduating soon- I want to make sure I can accept my diploma knowing I gave all that I got.
Comments
Dear Lexie,I sympathize
Dear Lexie,
I sympathize very much with the feelings you portrayed in your "Senioritis" post, and was particularly inspired by your last line "I want to make sure I can accept my diploma knowing I gave all that I got." But I must say that my problem in dealing with senioritis, although similar, contains no regrets.
You also said, "'Senioritis' is bittersweet- it's the unquenchable thirst for freedom from the monotony of highschool, and a stabbing fear of what that freedom actually means." I respect this at the same time that personally, I reject the "fear" of leaving high school. I consistently find myself fighting the strictures of living as an adult under the auspices of my parents. I don't want to feel so tethered, both in the good and bad sense of the word. By this I mean that my parents can also prevent me from doing as well in school or other areas because of the auxiliary responsibilities that being a part of a family requires. I have the personal initiative already to do the homework and to take responsibility for my own actions in college, and am ready to be responsible for my own life now. Freedom is something I need - I need to get back to my joys, one of which is definitely school, but outside of my current setting.
Lexie, Let me start with
Lexie,
Let me start with some seemingly irrelevant background here-- tomorrow, after school, I am heading to Colorado for a lacrosse trip that we all know will result in no academic production. I wont have a computer until next Monday, and therefore, I was going to get ahead by completing my Youth Voices posts before I left. Well, I read your post three hours ago. Instantly, I knew it was the one I was going to comment on. And I picked it for all the right reasons, because I spent the three hours in between talking on the phone, facebooking, and repeatedly checking powerschool. I even got so bored that I gave my lacrosse stick a bath... That is the definition of procrastination and senioritis. In my situation, this is a very negative thing.
However, I really enjoyed your post because it presents a different perspective on senioritis. You say, " 'Senioritis' is bittersweet- it's the unquenchable thirst for freedom from the monotony of highschool..." We are so close. In fact, we have 44 days of class left (without senior retreat) in our high school lives. After you described senioritis as bittersweet, you really caught my attention. Your last sentence is perfect. I hope to be on stage with you in May accepting my diploma knowing that I finished strong. I have certainly given it all I had so far, but your post has made me see that I should push myself as hard as possible so that I have no regrets when it's all over.
Thankyou,
Michael
Lexie-- I really enjoyed
Lexie--
I really enjoyed your post on senioritis, because it put a new twist on it for me. Every day I go to school thinking about how unlucky I am, but really it's the opposite. My mom makes me lunch and a cup of tea every morning, I get breakfast in most of my Spanish classes first period, teachers give me a review for almost every test, and I have all of my friends surrounding me in each of my classes. So is it senioritis or is it more knowing that I am letting go of life as I know it?
In college we are all going to start from square one... I probably eat cafeteria food for lunch, my teachers or classmates won't be bringing me breakfast, I will have no idea what is going to be on the test, and I won't know a single soul in any of my classes. These last two months are filled with AP tests and graduation preparation, but that is the fun of it all isn't it?
Thanks Lexie, your post made me realize I need to cherish my time at home for the next couple months--not be plagued by senioritis and procrastination.
Laura
Lexie- You, my friend, are
Lexie-
You, my friend, are genius for writing a post on this serious issue that is all too real for pretty much our whole class. I agree with you when you say, We're graduating soon- I want to make sure I can accept my diploma knowing I gave all that I got. I feel the same way, why stop working hard now when we're so close to ending? Even though grades may not matter so much anymore in the long run as people enroll in college and are pretty much set out for the next chapter of their lives, I personally want a report card that reflects my potential and intelligence. We owe that much to ourselves. Not ending on a good note is like saying, "Well, I almost made it all worth wild." This whole year I haven't really felt the effects of "Senioritis" but perhaps that's because I'm the type of person who always feels the need to constantly improve and by not doing so I fear in being left behind. Or maybe it's because I zone out dates like counting down my last day of school and instead focus on what's due the next day. My worst moments have come when I have been sitting at school and thinking, "I really don't wan't to do anything right now except be social and go enjoy the last years of my teenage life." But, that's been the extent of it. I'm at the point now where I think, "I'm here so I might as well make the best of it and enjoy every moment and come graduation, I'll leave this school knowing I made it and made it out strong." I'de rather have that then, "Phew, BARELY MADE IT OUT ALIVE!" Sooooo back to Senioritis...I agree, it's an excuse. Class of 2010....COME ON!!!! We can do it! We're almost done so let's end strong!
Fantastic post Lex! Thanks for letting me express my side.
Katie
P.S: Collin, get off facebook for awhile, it may do you some good. :)
Lexie I think you hit the
Lexie
I think you hit the hearts of many on this Youthvoices post. I really liked how you put a new perspective on this dreaded time of the year when everyone seems to diagnose themselves with senioritus. I mean I waited until last minute to do my youthvoices post because I procrastinated during our three day weekend about my decent but dreaded amount of homework sitting in my unopened backpack. Your post made me re-evaluate the Judge experience. Most of us will complain about the amount of homework and studying we have to do, but after our first year of college it might be worth the lovely four years at Judge Memorial. I've definitely learned a lot inside and outside the classroom, especially knowing how to walk up four cases of stairs and across the school in under four minutes.
Only a month in a half.
Thanks Lexie I really enjoyed the post
Dear Lexie, i really
Dear Lexie,
i really enjoyed your post. I understand your feelings of missing out on something in the past because you were so focused on the future. It's something that I actually realized I had done about two weeks ago. It's weird to think we are graduating soon and that I will never live with my parents again or be considered a child. Senioritis is a weird thing. I felt Senioritis more in the beginning of the year than now which is also weird. But hey, good post.
Sincerely,
C.Wood