By: Malena Esposito

I’ve been saying this since the beginning, but senior year is worse than junior year. Significantly worse. Unexpectedly worse. Sure, I could’ve forgotten how awful eleventh grade was, especially the first quarter, and sure, I’m probably the only one that feels like this, but nonetheless, it’s my opinion. Here’s why.

For starters, you knew junior year would be morbid. Maybe you didn’t know exactly what kind of work you’d have on your plate, but you knew there would be enough for seconds. You were warned. You expected it. From the time you were a freshman, “just wait for junior year” was being bellowed in your ear by the big kids. And now that that time has passed, I wish they were yelling “just wait for senior year” instead, because twelfth grade advice is almost the exact opposite of eleventh grade advice.

“It was so easy! I didn’t have any hard classes, I didn’t have a fourth period, either!”

“College applications are a bit tough, but everything else is smooth sailing.”

“Yeah, your motivation should last until spring break, you’ll be fine.”

Well, I hate to break it to you, but other than not having a fourth period, all of this information is false. Not only are you forced to take AP classes (because it looks good for college and because your counselors won’t let you out of them), but you’re applying for college, applying for scholarships, working throughout the week, and trying to have a social life, all while losing more motivation by the minute.

Early Onset Senioritis is real.

Junior year, I was a hustler. I was on top of every assignment possible—days and even weeks before they were due. I never went to bed later than 9:30-10 catching up on school work. All of my notes were colorful and organized; I lived by what I had written in my agenda. I was the epitome of an anti-procrastinator. My classmates longed for my determination.

Flashforward just one summer later.I’m not not on top of my assignments, but they take me ten years to complete. Heck, this is taking me ten years to complete. And every few minutes, after one question or a couple of sentences, I’ll give myself a homework break because I’m “working so hard.” And when I’ve finished the things that are due tomorrow, I’ll stop instead of getting ahead for the future. And by the time it’s 8 o’clock, I just want to go to bed, no matter what.

It’s kind of sad, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it. School is draining. My classes are draining. Waking up at 6am is draining. Doing the same thing every day for three years is draining. It’s almost the exact definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. That’s high school in a nutshell. And I’m over it. Thank you, next.