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'Senioritis' afflicts even the best students
By LOGAN NEILL Katie Hallberg describes the affliction as "senioritis:" the academic backslide that impending graduation brings to many high school seniors this time of year. Laziness, coupled with an anxiety to get the school year over with, compels many students to coast in the final weeks. "A lot of straight-A students are far enough ahead that they don't worry about grades anymore," says the Springstead High senior. "They're more concerned with having fun." Even Katie admits to at least some slacking in her normal studious ways. This semester, after her first straight-A report card since freshman year, even she opted for easy classes, ones that don't require the demanding study pace that wore her down the first half of the year. "You want good grades, but you feel you've earned the right to take things a little easier," she says. "The good thing is that I have more time to do things I want to do." In fact, much of Katie's time is devoted to a project that her Spanish teacher has adopted: the planning and organization of the state high school Spanish competition, which will be held in Daytona Beach in April. For the past few weeks, Katie and a few members of the school's Spanish National Honors Society have been busy planning the event which will have participants from more than 40 schools around the state. After much discussion with her parents, Katie's hope now is to attend the University of Florida in the fall, and possibly transfer to a private Christian college after a couple of years. As for scholarships, she hasn't heard much. "So far, I have my Bright Futures scholarship and that covers a lot," she says. However, the state-funded scholarship won't pay for lodging or meals, the cost of which could run into the thousands of dollars. "I have faith that things will work out somehow, but it would really help to get some scholarship money," she says. Meanwhile, Katie has begun to appreciate the finality of being a senior. On senior night last fall, she took a moment to look over a scrapbook her volleyball teammates had made. "We all just cried, knowing that that was something we'll never have again," recalls Katie. "Most of the time I try to enjoy being a senior this year. But you can't help thinking sometimes, "Oh my gosh, it's almost over.' "
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From today's Hernando Times |
