It has taken over.  As the plague once spread across Europe, senioritis has spread across the halls of EHS.

Day by day, the senior’s ability to focus and work outside of class diminishes until there is nothing left but procrastination and loathing for assignments.

Described as “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades,” by Merriam-Webster, senioritis takes full control of life in school.

The zombie-like glaze that covers my eyes and the slow, dragging walk through the halls, surrounded by freshmen, reminds me of the energy I’ll be preserving for summer and, after that, college.

I found myself through high school, but this fourth year has really helped me realize why I work to get good grades: to get away from it.

I want to get away from the hallway smells and the hard grading and the busy work and the classes that I will never use.

Will these things end in college? I don’t know, but I do know that I will have a new feeling of purpose and reason for doing that group project or seven-page paper.

As an expert on the disease, I have recorded side-effects so that it is easier to spot and find subjects where the senioritis has set in.

One patient, Amber Miller, was more than happy to describe her biggest symptom.

“Well I don’t remember the last time I got to school on time,” she said.

Along with late attendance, there are cases of homework neglect.

“I haven’t taken a book out of my locker since December,” Andrew Frank said.

Others believe the presence of senioritis is positive.

“Senioritis is a blessing,” Hannah Townzen said.  “I’ve lost the ability to care about anything school-related.  My life is so stress free.”

The most extreme case I’ve seen so far is from Elaine McWhorter.

“I just made up a quiz from February because my procrastination has tripled,” she said.

Between the need to escape the white-washed halls and the lack of need to complete work, I myself have succumbed to this dreaded parasite.  It’s spreading.  There is no stopping it until school is over or all aspects of the senior’s productivity are diminished.