By: Gaurika Gupta, Managing Editor
For the Class of 2026, what had seemed years away is now only a few months – graduation.
Second semester of senior year is often considered significantly easier than the first
semester. With a lot of seniors having completed most of their college applications and
having acquired a GPA that would most likely remain the same, it is assumed that the
pressure is o- seniors.
However, this assumption neglects the mental and social toll the seniors take on during the
final semester of their high school career. As college admission decisions begin rolling in
the next few months, everything these students had worked for their whole lives comes into
perspective. Thoughts of how their whole lifestyle would be flipped over and tossed around
in just a few months keep these “covid sixth graders” up at night. Additionally, the pressure
to stay involved in all the senior activities whether it is booking senior pictures, planning a
senior trip, finding the perfect prom dress, and still maintain a decent academic
performance adds to the anxiety.
What strikes harder is the cost of it all. With purchasing their graduation cap and gown,
prom outfits, senior trip tickets, and college application fees, some seniors end up
investing more money into this year than they do during their entire high school journey.
And worst of all – senioritis. Yes, it is as bad as they say it is. After being accepted into
decent colleges, the goal that these seniors had been working towards for the past four
years quickly dissolves. What now? What’s the point?
However, isn’t this everything Class of 2026 had worked for their entire life? Every decision
has led to this. The constant feeling of being overwhelmed is outshined by all the memories
they strive to create throughout this year. As us seniors run our final lap to graduation,
we’ve adorned a mantra that has gotten us through this year and will be getting us through
this semester– “it’ll all be worth it”.
