There is only so much time left in the semester— I mean, we are already halfway through February. Soon, I know that my closest friends are going to be dispersed around the country and that I will be going on new adventures with new friends. That fact is extremely exciting and, to be honest, I count down the days until I move into my dorm with my new roommate. However, it also means reckless teenage nights are coming to an end.

This article was going to be completely different until Tuesday, February 12, when I was walking to Financial Life Management and Karen Manley handed me a card. She does that kind of thing a lot: random letter writing and flower handing out. As I read it I was reminded of all our little adventures, and also how they were quickly coming to an end.

“It’s easy to get caught up in the senioritis and forget to finish strong. Not in grades (lol heck those) but in experiences. Teenage adventures have an expiration date. Don’t forget to have and enjoy them while you can.” Four sentences. That was all it took to completely change my mind on what senioritis is. Not some excuse for seniors to blow off work because all of a sudden they don’t care anymore, but the sadness of leaving behind friendships built off late night drives and lunchtime Crazy Eights games.

This year I have experienced both the fake version of senioritis, especially in regards to AP Spanish essays and speaking assignments (sorry Arroyo!), and the sad feeling of senioritis. While I have drudged through work and taken numerous naps during classes, the fake senioritis is unfortunately quite real. Slowly, I started to care less about school and count down the minutes until another day would end, taking me that much closer to graduation.

Then, as I near graduation, the other senioritis hits me. Every day I see my three best friends in my favorite class, and when the bell rings, that’s one class closer to our last. The holidays bring excitement and bittersweet feelings as we know it is our last year all together. From every late night drive, ice-cream run, inside joke, and all the little moments that truly built our high school experience, I want to press pause and keep them forever.

Senioritis has hit me both ways this year, and at random times. It hit me when I gave thanks at Thanksgiving with journalism and when talking about my future with my advisory teacher. Every single snow globe moment I experience, I know my senioritis is real, but I also know that those are the moments I will treasure forever.