Seniors' stress builds at LOHS

At Live Oak High School, senioritis hasn't hit hard — yet. However, most seniors do find themselves struggling with prioritizing the challenges of their last mandatory year of education.

The list of obstacles is dizzying. College applications, money for college applications, finding out deadlines for important documents (financial aid, college applications, etc.), finding the right university, beginning senior projects, keeping grades up (due to increasingly competitive admittance rates for colleges), money for senior trip, fundraising for the senior class ... and we're only six weeks into the school year.

Senior Fabian Arteaga said senior year is hard. "For a student that's down credits ... it's very hard and takes time away from things I want to do. It's probably going to be difficult to catch up with my classmates."

Senior Navor Mendoza said the year will only get harder: "Stress is nothing — wait 'til the gray hairs come: That's senior year."

Other fellow seniors are at ease and feel they have a big enough cushion just to go with the flow. Ricardo Camarena, senior class president, said, "Senior year? Psh — it's nothing. I'm just right here, chillin'."

Albeit a stressful year, most also see it as a time to reflect and to realize that after 12 years of the same routine, things are about to change, drastically. Senior Jacklyn Huerta was pleased to say, "It's my last year of being a kid, but at the same time, I'm reflecting back on my childhood up until this moment. ... I'm going into the big bad world pretty soon, and I want to create a better future not just for me but for the next generation."

Senior Simranjot Phagura said, "Senior year so far has been a surreal experience. I'm still getting adjusted to the fact that this is my last year after so long. Looking back, I've grown a lot, and so have my abilities as a person."

Senior Angela Breining said, "Senior year so far has been pretty good, but I'm probably speaking too soon because we haven't even yet been confronted with what we want to do for our senior project. The stress is starting to build ... I have no clue where I want to go to college. I'm excited for school to end, but I the same time, I'm pretty sad to graduate. Any who, yay for 2011."

We are preparing to become freshmen one last time. The transition definitely won't be easy, but it is a natural occurrence that can't be avoided. Senior Reid Pelfrey concluded, "The rest of the year will bring many smiles and tears as we say goodbye to our classmates that have been like family for 13 long years. This year will always bring back fond memories of friendship and camaraderie that will always be second to none."

The bittersweet day approaches, and the class of 2011 is next in line, but we look forward into a bright future, holding our fondest memories, friendships and experiences near and dear to us.

David Zermeño is a senior at Live Oak High School. His column appears every six weeks in Education.