As I move on from one stage of my life to the next, I cannot help but feel nostalgic. You come out of middle school with this naive notion of what to expect in the next four years, but I think that is what has influenced me the most. I knew that I wanted to be my best self from day one no matter where I go, and the fact that I had no idea what to expect was something I am now grateful for. Ever since I was young, performing well in academics and extracurriculars has played a large part in my upbringing. My parents have always set expectations for my academics, so after I was doing well in middle school, I didn’t want to come to high school and do bad, so I guess I set expectations for myself because of my family’s viewpoints on school. They definitely value education a lot so their values have also turned into my values, meaning I now value my education as well.

Coming into freshman year I knew I wanted to become active in more activities than I was before. Of course, I was on the Antioch Upper Grade School dance team, as well as choir, but I wanted to get involved in activities foreign to me. For the past four years, I have been involved in the dance team, interact club, the spring musicals, the fall plays, Madrigal choir (I even take choir as a class), National Honors Society and I think that’s all of them, yeah. When I say it has been a lot to balance both extracurriculars and rigorous Advanced Placement and honors courses, I mean it. And how does this relate to senioritis? Well, I guess you can say I have had a really memorable last four years, but then I fell into senioritis. In a way, senioritis has shown me what the anticipation of moving on has the power to do. I have loved every minute of the fall plays and spring musicals, and through that I have made friends, not only people in my own grade, but also with underclassmen as well. I think that senioritis is a way of reminding you of what you will be losing in a few months.

I knew it hit me right after spring break. I had just procrastinated on my I-Search and it finally clicked that this was my last semester of high school. I have worked so hard these past four years and I didn’t want to stop, so I made sure to try to make it matter.

Senioritis made it difficult for my academics but only made it easier for my extracurriculars. I have gotten to the point where I just thought “I just do not want to do it anymore.” The best part of my day is going to all my extracurriculars and seeing them come to an end makes me emotional. My best friend Katie and I balled our eyes out the other week just visualizing not continuing on next year in the fall play, or even attending a Sequoit sporting event. The spring musical—”the Addams Family”—was my last chance to show what I can do; also, to show everyone what the senior class is leaving their legacy as. I wanted to show the underclassmen in the musical that here is what we have accomplished this year, and that you can possibly do the same, if not better. I really wanted to leave my mark as someone who was positive to everyone she came across, and I feel like I can give thanks to senioritis for showing me what really matters in the four short years you have at this school. You only have four years to make your mark, so join as many things as you possibly can in order to meet as many people and build as many relationships as possible. It’s your one chance to show colleges and your family, more importantly, yourself, that you have worked hard. Senioritis is that self-checkpoint to kind of either get yourself in gear or give up. I think that being a senior is an emotional thing; I mean you definitely have to come to terms with this chapter.

When I think about any regrets I have, I definitely would say I wish I tried new things. I think that it is important to go out of your comfort zone and try to make the four years you have here truly special. I regret not taking advantage of all the good things this school has to offer. I wish I tried out for Madrigal choir and all of the other extracurriculars that I once didn’t think I was good enough to be in.

Senioritis is just a part of high school, it really is the quintessential right of path to graduate from high school. I know that I’ve struggled to juggle academics, athletics and clubs, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I think as a class we’ve been here long enough and it is time to move on from the good times and the bad. Senioritis, like an annoying sibling, can show you what matters, but also what you have to look forward to in the coming years. It’s the memories and people that have made the greatest influence on me for the last four years. I’ve completed my time at Antioch Community High School and I believe that it’s important to still make everyday matter in high school because, before you know it, it’s all just a memory.

Future seniors,

Don’t forget to make every day matter here! Join clubs, do the musicals, participate in school sports—when you blink you will be at the finish line, hopefully with a diploma in your hands. Don’t let your senioritis get the best of you in your final months at ACHS; also, don’t let your excitement for the future interrupt your present.