Junior Kylo Oswald:
While seniors are settling into their “just need to pass” mindset, juniors are doing the exact opposite: trying to hold everything together at once and hoping the glue doesn’t melt until June 18th. May, for juniors, is less of a wind-down and more of a pile-up. AP exams hit first, and they don’t come quietly. It’s weeks of review, late-night cramming, and the constant fear that no matter how much you study, it still might not be enough. As soon as one test ends, it feels like another begins. There’s no real break- just a quick reset and back to studying again. And APs are only part of it.
Finals are right around the corner, and suddenly every assignment feels heavier. GPA isn’t just a number anymore, but it starts to feel like a huge defining factor. Every quiz, every project, every Infinite Campus update carries way
more weight than it did a few months ago because college applications are right around the corner.
Connected, college pressure is creeping in from every direction. Juniors think about possible SAT retakes, building college lists, and what their busy schedules should look like for next year. There’s a constant sense of being slightly behind, even when they’re doing everything they can. Then there’s everything outside the classroom.
Some juniors are trying to plan summer programs or internships, hoping to build something that looks impressive and adds useful experience for later on. Others balance jobs, working shifts after school or on weekends while still trying to keep up with everything academically. Even summer- something that’s supposed to feel relaxing- starts to feel like something to add to the to-do list.
And somehow, the smaller events never go away. NGSS testing. Group projects. Teachers reminding everyone that the year isn’t over yet. It all stacks up.
By this point in the year, it isn’t just stress- it’s exhaustion. The kind where everything starts to blur together, and the to-do lists never really get shorter.
The wild contrast makes the split more noticeable. Sitting in the same classroom, watching seniors relax while everything feels so high-stakes for us juniors. It’s not hard to feel the difference. But there’s also an understanding, even if it’s quiet. Because in a year, this flips.
The same juniors trying to manage everything right now will be the ones sitting a little more relaxed, a little less stressed, and finally understanding why May feels so different.
Senior Dylan Manifold:
Senioritis: a generally, temporary, pandemic-like decline in motivation, effort, and interest in schoolwork among high school seniors, often leading to lower grades, skipping classes, and a, generally, dismissive attitude. It acts as a, sort of, burnout phase where students, mentally, check out, focusing on post-graduation life rather than current academic demands.
Most seniors begin their year excited to be back at school, to spend their last year with all of their friends, and to enjoy all of the exciting senior activities to come. The first semester brings its own kind of pressure: college
applications, deadlines, and the constant push to keep grades high for transcripts.
When May rolls around, one minute you’re celebrating being done with college decisions, and the next you’re staring at five missing assignments, AP exams, and a teacher calmly reminding you that “we’re not done yet.” Somewhere along the way, the mindset shifts. What used to be “I need to try my best for college” slowly turns into “I’m in, and I just need to pass.” Knowing what next year looks like makes it a lot harder to stay focused on the present. I won’t lie and say I haven’t felt the effects of senioritis, and I’m sure my first period teachers could confirm that waking up early has become more of a suggestion than a routine.
Plus, although school may no longer feel like our biggest stressor in life, May of senior year comes with a lot of lasts. In the next two months, we will spend our last moment in high school, graduate, spend our last summer with all of our friends, and move on to the next chapter of our lives. For many of us, that means moving out of our childhood bedrooms and leaving East Lyme behind for a while. Therefore, May becomes an emotional month. Graduation starts to feel real, and the ever-approaching goodbyes become a weight we all carry.
As sad as the thought of leaving may be, somehow, every year, seniors survive. Our grades may drop by a few points due to a missing assignment or two, and we may have to ask for some forgiveness when it comes to tardies (I’m sorry, Ms. Trussler), but some of our best moments come from knowing our time with everyone is limited. Late night drives, spontaneous plans with friends, and more quality time with my family has become a part of my daily routine.
So, my advice from a senior just beginning her surviving May journey is simply to soak up every moment with your friends and the people you may not be spending every moment with next year. Also, as our teachers like to remind us, come to school. We’re not done yet.
