After three years of hardcore studying and studiousness, we have officially hit that trigger where senioritis plagues us all. Here’s a list of things that seniors deal with on the daily, while we just try to make it through one more year of college.
1. Waking up for a 1 p.m. class.
Coming to college really changed the sleep schedule game for most freshman. In high school, classes start at an ungodly hour, usually between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. so when we were given the liberty to design our schedules in college, we were finally able to get some sleep. For most of us, we picked classes that started later than 8 a.m. (RIP to those of you that didn’t have a choice but to take those early classes) but now that we’re seniors, it’s kind of a stretch to even pick a class that starts at 10 a.m. At this point, waking up for a class that begins in the mid-afternoon feels about as hard as waking up for an 8 a.m. because we’re so accustomed to sleeping in.
2. Writing a 2-page paper or other minimal amounts of homework.
After three years in college, we’ve sort of paid our dues with the whole “school-work” thing. We’ve done the all-nighters in Du Bois, we’ve polished countless essays to perfection, we’ve gone to office hours to get extra help with problem sets, so now, the senioritis has fully kicked in and all of that ambition seems to have flown away with the rest of our cares. As an English major, I should rejoice at the prospect of only having to write a 2-page paper but no, my laziness is essentially equating this page count to a full on dissertation.
3. Wearing anything but “grout-fits” (all grey outfits).
I remember when I was a freshman and a sophomore, I really put in effort with my clothes. I would carefully plan out cute outfits the night before class in order to tell the world: “Yeah, I’ve got my life together”. Now? Well now, I practically live in thrift store flannel shirts and a pair of sweatpants. Groutfits and senior year are a match made in heaven. Nodbody is trying to be uncomfy while sitting through two and a half hour long capstone classes.
4. Wearing makeup/ styling hair.
In the same vein as the “groutfits”, wearing makeup or making my hair look nice is just not in the cards these days. In the past, I went pretty hardcore with the concealer, eyeliner, and flat irons but these days I’ve been rocking the no-makeup and ponytail/ messy bun look for most days of the week. My friends and I have all joked about how our appearance has gone downhill since we were sophomores, but I think we still look pretty good with our natural looks.
5. Not getting takeout for every meal.
For the seniors that are living off-campus, you guys know the struggle of having to cook every night or meal prep for the weak. It’s laborious, time-consuming, and it creates a mountain of dishes that you have to do right after you finish cooking. Now that we have apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, not ordering in for every meal is a real testament to our self-control. Did you guys know you can DoorDash Friendly’s?! Saying “no” to an ice cream sundae delivered right to your door just goes to show the strength of the senior class, right?
6. Straight up, just having the effort to go to class.
Getting good grades and keeping up your G.P.A. has and always should be your number one goal during college, but as our graduation date creeps closer and closer, the temptation of using all of your excused absences A.S.A.P. is stronger than ever. It’s raining outside? Damn, that seems like a good reason to stay home. The bus is going to be 10 minutes late? Guess I’m not going to class today. Excuses like these are dangerous, but they’re an all too-real reality for seniors. Props to you if you’re a senior that hasn’t skipped a single class yet this semester.
7. Studying for gen-ed or other “filler” classes.
I think we can all agree that gen-ed and “filler” classes are a huge force when you’re in your senior year. These classes realistically and most likely won’t benefit your major and because many of them count for 4 credits, it can either make or break your current GPA. This kind of pressure forces you to study and do well in these classes, but there’s always that overarching feeling of “Why am I putting so much energy and stress into a pointless class?” Keep it up, my friends, we’re almost at the finish line.
8. Focusing in the library for more than 15 minutes at a time.
The W.E.B Du Bois Library has been a safe haven for nearly every student on-campus. This is where we’ve cranked out midterm papers, studied nonstop for finals, and collaborated on semester projects without any distractions from the outside world, but then senioritis hit us like a freight train and staying focused is about as hard as motivating yourself to go to the gym after eating Chipotle. I’ve been to the library several times this semester, and each time I’ve had to really, really force myself to hunker down at one of the desks on the quiet floors and push myself to do my work.
9. Staying off your phone/ laptop during a big lecture.
When you’re in a class that has over 100 people in it, it’s super tough to pay attention for the full lecture. When I was in my first year at UMass, I would turn my phone off and keep it tucked away in my bag for the entirety of my classes so that I wouldn’t be distracted. Now, I still keep my phone in my bag but I still find myself tapping on the screen every 20 minutes or so to see if I have any new notifications, or literally just to look at the phone background of my dog to wake myself up for a second after groggily listening to the professor talk.
10. The all-consuming anxiety of entering the adult world in just a few months.
We. All. Know. This. Feeling. It’s real and it’s happening. Graduation is looming upon us and it’s terrifying. Soon we’ll be far away from what has been our home for the past four years and we’ll be kicked into the adult world where no one’s there to hold your hand. Every senior is feeling the pressure and anxiety of finding a job, applying to graduate schools, or anything else that will ensure we don’t drown when we’re pushed into the deep end of real life. I know it’s scary and stressful, but guys, we’ve made it this far and I know we’ll be okay when the month of May rolls around and we walk across the stage with a degree in our hands! Keep on going, seniors, we’re almost there!