Murray, Ne.- With the fourth quarter in full swing, the impending summer lurking behind the corner is hot on students’ minds. Spring sports have been in action for weeks now, and the excitement from our newly crowned state medalists is dying down. Quarter four has always been a flurry of students trying to make their last quarter of school pass by as quickly as possible, but there seems to be something else on the mind of this upcoming batch of graduates.

To seniors, the fourth quarter is full of lasts: last day of school (maybe ever), last soccer game, last track meet, last time sitting at a lunch table with your closest friends. Being a senior is always full of hardships, but this year, without a doubt, has been one of the hardest. COVID has taken away much of what made school fun for seniors. Not getting to see the faces of the people you have known all of your life would not be easy for anyone, let alone people who may be savoring their last fleeting moments with their childhood friends.

Arguably, the most important part of high school is graduation. Walking across the stage to receive your diploma in front of friends and family is the pinnacle of celebratory moments in the lives of teenagers everywhere. However, the class of 2021 will have limited admittance into the graduation ceremony due to COVID-19 guidelines. Although keeping people safe and healthy is the main priority, it is still heartbreaking that underclassmen won’t be able to watch their friends during one of the most memorable moments of their lives.

Though forming connections and extracurriculars are important aspects of high school, the main reason for school in any stage of life is education. This means that the personal lives of students aren’t the only thing that is being affected during this pandemic. The official ACT website released a statement in 2021 that claimed that ACT scores were down by .88 points from the previous year. In a world where things are ever-changing, one thing that nobody wants is a decline in the quality of education of our students. Change, no matter how good some may be, is not always for the better, especially when it comes with a mask mandate.

The end of the year means different things to everyone. To sophomores it could mean finally being able to drive, to juniors it could mean the end of their most difficult year of high school. But to seniors, it means something entirely different. Senior year has always meant the beginning of something new for students. This year, however, seniors have gotten more than they bargained for. With the decline in ACT scores and the inability to do the things they love the most, it’s no wonder seniors are being afflicted with senioritis.

For seniors today, senioritis is the one of the most prevalent aspects of their lives, second only to COVID. Senioritis has plagued upcoming graduates for years and doesn’t seem to be stopping its spread any time soon.