Issue date: 5/9/07 Section: Opinion

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I'm done. I'm so done with school. I'm putting down my flash cards, recycling my textbooks and walking out of the Library. This campus has seen the last of me. Wait, I still have a semester left? I'm not done yet? When is it all over?

I sat on a bench in the Riverfront Café wondering why I was so tired and stressed since April started and why I was procrastinating on all my work. After wanting to leave campus like 45 times and realizing that I had three papers I still needed to write and two classes to attend, I came to the conclusion that I was suffering from a major case of senioritis.

Senioritis, an imaginary disease concocted by students of America, still highly affects many of us in college. Symptoms include laziness, an over-excessive wearing of sweats and hoodies, lack of studying and a dismissive attitude where you no longer give a damn. A student's social world takes over him or her and those captivating classes he or she signed up for and don't attend anymore are just in the way and cut into the time that was set aside for a pedicure, basketball game or lunch date.

The only cure seems to be graduation or a slap in the face. Students lose interest in their daily activities and find that sleep and not caring seem like better things to do. I, on one hand, stopped caring around mid-April and have not started to since. I have papers due, interviews lined up and would much rather take a nap than write this column.

"C's get degrees," said communication studies major and graduating senior Emily Hart. "I'm so close to graduation that it's hard to keep focused on what I'm still doing and what I need in order to get my diploma."

I never thought I would be attacked by senioritis. I thought it would faze over me like Ugg boots and the comeback of stretch pants. Or perhaps last as long as Kevin Federline's singing career, but it looks like they are both unfortunately taking a toll on me.

Students all over campus are feeling the crunch of pressure on their backs and are failing to keep the motivation of finishing school freshly etched in their brains. Graduation is a mere two weeks away, and there is certainly no room for senioritis. Still, the idea of catching a few more z's rather than writing a research paper takes priority over anything.

According to www.collegeboard.com, it seems that senioritis and taking it easy senior year may seem like a nice break, but it is likely to do more harm than good. According to recent reports, incomplete high school preparation can contribute to academic problems in college. As many as half of all college students do not have adequate academic preparation, and are required to take remedial courses.

Affect my grades? Sure, it probably can. But like procrastination, would students really let it go that far? Graduation is days away and I doubt a person would jeopardize his or her chances of being completely done with the school.

"I went through senioritis," said psychology senior Christina Rodriguez. "Everyone does. You just have to know how to take it and deal with the consequences."

Many seniors say that it's just something that has to take its course and you just have to let it ride. Senioritis affects us all in different ways, whether you like it or not. It sneaks up on you and latches onto your "I don't care" part of your brain and sets up camp. Having your own way of dealing with the situation and not letting it control your life is what matters in the end.

So to all the graduating seniors, I just hope senioritis has come and gone for you, and I wish only the best for the last few days you have here at Sacramento State. Good luck Class of 2007.

Rosa Pastran can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com

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