“How many days left of school?” is the big question that hovers over Pelham Memorial High School as the year comes to a close.
Many of the high school’s seniors the Pelham Examiner talked to said the academic year is dragging on too long, causing the last days of school to be unproductive and impractical.
“I definitely experienced senioritis this year, especially after I got into Rollins College,” Kady Finegan said. As she is getting ready to start anew in the sunny state of Florida, Finegan said she is ready to experience her new journey. She has been spending the end of school singing for the PMHS chorus, writing for the Pel Mel and being with her friends.
Jane Falvey said she has been “coasting through the last few weeks of senior year. The senioritis is feeling strong.” Falvey has continued to participate in the PMHS yearbook, which gives her a space to relax and exert her creative freedoms—crucial in battling senioritis.
“Senior slumping is inevitable, and something that should not be overly frowned upon,” said Inès Rollan. “While students should continue to complete their assignments, it’s natural to feel more relaxed and less anxious about school once in college. Senioritis is something seniors openly talk about with one another because we all feel it at one point or another during the school year. I would say if anything, teachers frown upon it more than the students do.”
Leah Gilman said that she has not felt like “doing too much” leading up to graduation day. “We still have a lot of work to do, especially in economics and AP courses,” she said.
At the same time, Lane Cooper said she has good reason to keep working hard until the last day. “I haven’t gotten too caught up in the senioritis game because I want to finish strong—and knowing that I must submit my final grades to my university keeps me going,” said Cooper. “My excitement for the future beyond Pelham keeps me out of the senioritis loophole. However, these past few weeks have been the biggest workloads of the year. Teachers like to pile on last-minute assignments and final projects.”
Similarly, Andrew Scott has focused on prioritizing his work and studying for tests. “I will say that I still prepared for my exams, putting hours into studying, but I know a lot of kids around me who did not,” said Scott. “Many other people in my classes have said that they did not do any practice work leading up to exams, whether or not they were being graded.”
As a junior myself, I am aware of how senioritis has affected the energy level at PMHS. The halls were once filled with excited and hopeful twelfth graders, but that energy has dwindled. At least music and art remain. Some approaching graduation have been still actively participating in creative activities, such as the music and art departments.
