Senior Spirit: Seeking or Sinking

By: Brenna Egan

Recently, as I strolled down the much anticipated senior hall, and peered over freshmen heads (yes, they ARE taller than me, and they ARE in our hall), I couldn't help but catch the negative vibes throughout the senior class. This wasn't the usual Brit Lit hysteria either. I could see it slowly spreading like a contagious disease from one person to the next through complaints, threats, and misconceptions. In two seconds I heard the news and knew all too well the problem at hand: lost privileges.

I am proud to say that my class, 2000, has participated in three Walk-a-Thons, finally learned the lunch schedule (most of us!), found the ultimate technique to hall swimming, and most spiritfully lost three Field Days (4, 3, 2Ijust wait!). These are the credentials that are supposed to make us the superheroes of the school. Don't get me wrong, I still feel like She-Ra, but when slowly but surely our hopes and dreams of being the oldest are diminished, our pride is thrown down to sophomore lot.

I don't think it's even an issue of seniors really being angry because they have to mountain climb "the hill," it's just that we are engrossed in an uncontrollable superiority complex. We think that more privileges will equal respect and veneration from other classes, and when we can't say, "wait until next year" to those other classes, it damages our pride. Yes, it may be superficial to think this way but what can be expected when our lives have revolved around class competition for the last three years?

After much consideration, not to mention extensive research, I was able to look behind the scenes. I realized that the negativity disease that spread through the hall was similar to a game of telephone where, by the end of the game, every fact was completely misconstrued.

First, in actuality, the class of 99 did not even receive as many privileges as we have. They didn't have open campus the first week in every month nor did they receive chapstick from the sophomores! Besides, now that I think about it, I didn't respect the seniors for what they received from the administration, but for who they were and their experiences.

Second, in the longrun it will be impossible to have a senior lot because of extensive enrollment. Mr. Miller kindly explained to me that when the administration draws a line there are usually 15-20 spots in the upper-lot left to sit carless. As a result, an excess of cars are forced to park in sophomore lot. When I think about it, it would be unfair to start a tradition now and have to end it because the gargantuan upcoming classes would not only be hauling up "the hill," but taking the vans to and from K-Mart (although, I do understand some sleepyhead seniors can't sympathize).

Okay, so I'm over it, but it does'nt mean that we can't stop trying for other privileges (open campus: hint, hint). Someone once said that being aggressive was the key to life. Aggressive, not negative. The only thing I can say about these last couple weeks is that there is nothing like complaining to bring about class unity. We have managed to pull together and all finally agreed on something. However, if we keep this up all we may have is unity, and not all that we are striving for.

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