Right about this time every year, seniors start throwing around the word “senioritis,” meaning virtually every senior has subconsciously checked out from high school. Visions of dorm rooms and ivy towers fill their heads, leaving little room for AP Lang and Comp notes or graduation requirements.

Quite honestly, I think every senior is entitled to a little senioritis.

After twelve years of intense pressure from parents, teachers and coaches, we have finally made it.

Not only are we leaving high school, we are going on to bigger and better places.

As long as I can remember, my parents have always thrown college in my face.

“Oh, Lauren, you got a C on your chemistry test. You know, you’re not going to get into college with grades like that,” or “You should really think about doing some more extracurricular activities. Colleges eat that stuff up!”

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has heard this before.

So after four long years of AP classes, varsity sports teams, student government, grueling band practice, internships, hundreds of hours spent volunteering, executive board meetings and piles upon piles of homework,  we are finally reaping the benefits.

Although it’s true many seniors go alternative routes (entering the military or work force,) a large majority are hearing back from the colleges they applied to in the fall.

This is a time to celebrate. High school is rapidly ending, like sand running out of an hourglass, and plans for the future are being made.

It’s only human for seniors to let their thoughts wander to all of the exciting adventures around the corner.

I find myself many times attempting to do AP calculus homework, yet in the end wasting that time looking at Facebook bumper stickers. After a couple failing homework grades and a slight drop in my grade, I decided to find a happy medium.

Whenever I find myself starting to procrastinate doing homework, I tell myself to finish half of it. Hey, I’ve made it twelve years, I can finish half of these chapter questions for AP political science.

After I finish half the questions, I allow myself 30 minutes of relaxation to do whatever I want.

If I want to daydream about the University of Maryland, that’s when I do it. If I want to lay on the couch and eat a pile of oreo’s, well this is my time.

All in all, seniors deserve a bit of a break every now and then. Between trying to keep up with grades, jobs, parents and friends, our minds become bogged down.

Take some time to yourself everyday to rejuvenate and reload.

And hey, give yourself a pat on the back, too. After all, this is a time to celebrate.