High school is more interesting and different than any other schooling we as students have experienced before. You are finally presented the opportunity to choose your own classes, meet new people, and, on a more serious note, your grades finally count towards getting accepted into college.

With this looming, lofty goal to “go to college” ahead of me as a freshman, I trekked on, devouring new material and keeping my grades up. As a voracious reader and self-proclaimed nerd, I delighted in the fact that I got the opportunity to learn more. My classmates all followed suit, as exemplified by the fact that we still have twelve students in our class with perfect 4.0-grade point averages. With students looking at schools like Notre Dame, Harvard, and Columbia with a real chance of admittance, the class of 2017 is exemplary, and we always have been.

September blew by in a whirlwind fashion, and as we make our way into October, many seniors are falling into a lull of sorts. A popular term us slackers have adapted for this lethargic learning is “senioritis”. While senioritis takes many forms, it can best be described as having little or no motivation to complete assignments.

Many seniors can and have fallen into this slump so far during the school year. Activities in the average Blanchet senior’s schedule include, but are not limited to, daily homework, studying for future tests, college applications, maintaining a social life, playing a sport, heading a club, and building a faith life. With several concurrent tasks, duties, and deadlines, it is especially easy for seniors to slip into idleness.

Combatting the issue is the counseling team at Blanchet. With senior counseling sessions required, the counselors sit down with each and every student. They review their college applications and give them advice on how to stay on track to achieve that crazy goal of going to college. As I sat down with my counselor, Ms. Erin Camden, she had one of the best pieces of advice for me.

“Keep on track,” said Camden. “Have a great first semester, you can do it.”

With these words of wisdom snapping me out of my sluggish senior-induced stupor, I felt refreshed and ready to take senior year by the horns. With so many things going on in the lives of seniors, these simple words of encouragement are a pivotal piece of advice. With every college-bound student advised the same, the class of 2017 has emerged from September feeling refreshed and empowered, free of senioritis for at least a little longer.