We’ve heard the word “senioritis” a hundred times throughout our high school career. But now that I’m a senior, I don’t really see it around me. There are the “lazy” kids, who’ve always been lazy, and the “overachievers”—like me. As I’m writing this, I have five hundred things running through my mind. My life is consumed with the major responsibilities I’ve involved myself in. While I’m atypical of other average seniors, I think I understand the stresses more than anyone.

Mock Trial, Drama Club, SkillsUSA, AP classes, Community Theatre, grade point averages, band practice, college applications, scholarships, community service, financial aid, social life—wait, what social life? I don’t have time anymore. Frankly, I don’t even think I have the mindset anymore. When was the last time I went to the movies without worrying how I’m going to finish my homework/assignments/speeches in time? I honestly can’t remember. I just have too much going on.

There was recently an article in “Teen Vogue” that talked about the pressure teens go through nowadays in order to be perfect. They feel as if parents, teachers, and the students themselves focus too much on perfection. I agree. While I enjoy all I do, I don’t think I would’ve overwhelmed myself like this without the fear of “letting others down.”

I know I’m not alone here. I talk to my senior classmates every day. When they aren’t stressed by their classes and the homework, they’re worried about colleges, or financial aid, or how they’re going to manage all their time. These kids are stressed out. In fact, one of my good friends recently had a panic attack in class. She was suddenly overwhelmed by all that she has to accomplish in such a short time. And I know exactly what she’s going through. I express my overwhelmed feelings at my house when no one’s there. So that maybe no one will know. But it doesn’t change the fact that I feel what everyone else does.

This stress everyone’s feeling is obviously not healthy. It’s impossible for students to give 100% of themselves to everything they do if they’re doing ten different things. They can’t physically do it. Sometimes I feel as if teachers, advisors, parents, peers, and even the students themselves expect them to. Which, ultimately, adds to the stress.

But what exactly is the remedy of this? Is there one? For me, there isn’t unless I quit half the things I’m doing. Which I won’t. So what’s the point of this column? Well, fellow seniors, you’re not alone. I know how you feel when you feel like there’s not enough time in the day. I know how the missing hours of sleep kills your ability to function the next day. I know the domino affect feeling of the stress…how it keeps adding up. On the bright side, after June, we don’t have to do five hundred different extra curricular activities in order to be accepted to college. Because, hopefully, we’ll already be on our way there.

So, in a sense, all this stress may just pay off. After all this hard work, feeling overwhelmed, and loss of sleep, we may just be repaid with acceptance to the college of our choice. Which sounds quite nice to me.