High school students often look forward to the laid-back attitude of senior year. Once college applications pass, the rest of the year supposedly passes by with little to no effort. Many expect minimal stress and enough time to hang out with friends. However, not every senior year fits the stress-free stereotype. Aishwarya Shaji, a student at Hall High School here in West Hartford, CT gave us some insights to her senior year thus far. When asked about the balance between the various stressors in her life, she recollected that she “feels as though she favors school over her social life,” which has negative effects on her health (Shaji, 2020). Aside from health-related issues, the workload additionally creates a time management issue: “I was very stressed out, I felt as though there was a lot to do and I wasn’t sure how to manage it all” (Shaji, 2020). 

From college to schoolwork and extracurricular activities, most students constantly have a full plate in front of them. Does the stress-free stereotype of the senior year hold true? Research shows  “[o]nly 1.6 percent of undergraduates reported that they felt no stress in the last 12 months…” (American College Health Association, 2018). Although academics may no longer create as much stress, the fear of the future and nervousness about college compensate. Seth Ehrlich, a current junior at Hall, mentioned the relentless worry of college hanging over his head. He also stated that he has to prioritize his schoolwork moreover his social life, especially now because of the excess amount of college work piled on his plate. Shockingly, he said he wasn’t worried about getting into college, rather worried about getting everything done in a timely manner, both college and school assignments. 

The future is an unknown entity, daunting many of all ages. Teenagers, especially, struggle with anxious feelings when such a drastic transition approaches: “The change that the students experience from school system to the college system and the sudden autonomy they are given that may also become a cause of stress,” writes Nayereh Shahmohammadi (2011) in a report on a study of 11th and 12th-grade students’ stress levels. During an interview with an AP Psychology teacher at the high school, Dr. Lara White mentions that she notices a lot of her students experience stress and serious health issues relating to college prep. Teenagers across all grade levels tend to experience stress-induced illness, which only worsens during senior year. 

White also brings up the financial burden on students’ shoulders during the college process each year. Teens often struggle between attending a well-respected school and saving money. Schools are expensive nowadays, with the student debt up to $1.5 trillion (Friedman, 2019). 

In the world we live in today, the harsh and ruthless appearance of society festers agitation over finding a well-paying job and therefore growing to be financially independent, especially with the student debt crisis. A majority of teenagers worry about their own success, both in school and beyond education. Many push themselves to get grades adequate for prestigious schools in hopes of attending a college to properly equip them to find success after graduating.