Only some students sit down on the first day of freshman year and think, “These grades are going to affect what colleges I get into in four years.” However, high school is built around preparing students for college and everything comes down to one decision: which college to attend.

As It turns out there is a reason they tell you to work hard all four years of high school. But when the hectic college process comes to a close, many seniors don’t know what to do with all that free time.

The first trimester of senior year is filled with keeping up good grades and completing college applications. Many say they don’t feel like a senior until they have gotten into college or even until the spring trimester.

Senior Maddie Hatch, who got accepted early decision to Colby College, says, “Ever since I got into college, I do not care about my grades or homework. Last week, my study halls consisted of Vampire Diaries and two hour naps followed by more Vampire Diaries.”

Some students find that after they are accepted into their first college, it is increasingly difficult to focus on their classes and homework. College admissions don’t work the same at every school. Even though students don’t necessarily need to keep up straight A’s in class, students who had a perfect grade point average when they applied to college can be expected by their colleges to keep it perfect.

Some schools are harder to get into than others and some expect more of their prospective students. It really depends on where the student ends up going, but even the most lenient schools expect their students to keep up a certain grade point average. Some students don’t realize it but it’s much easier to let themselves fall behind than it is to catch up and make up that missing work.

Senior Jackie Kioussis says, “My mom just tells me to keep my head above water and to do the best that I can.”

Seniors need to make sure they are paying attention to assignments and keeping up with their work. If they fall behind, that might be considered not keeping their head above water.

Keeping seniors engaged when it gets to the third trimester is also a challenge for teachers. In those senior-filled spring classes, not many students are going to be focused and very few are going to put in 100% effort while they stare out the window waiting to play can-jam on the quad.

When asked what seniors are like in a spring elective course, Ms. Davey says, “It depends on the weather. If it is warm and sunny, students are very distractible and I find it very difficult to hold any lecture because I feel like the attention span is very limited. I feel like there are many questions asked if we can go outside. Dress code is also an issue.”

At Williston however, there is some extra motivation for students to keep up their grades, especially for boarding students. Seniors on honors who live in dorms get special privileges, and a huge amount of freedom.

Those privileges include closing your door during study hall, going out of town during study hall, watching television during the time that others have to be studying, and sometimes even getting to keep your cell phone.

While to some these privileges may not seem like much, to the students who have experienced a typical Williston study hall, they are extraordinary. However, they can also lead to the conflict of watching Netflix from eight to ten or actually keeping up with school work. They further lead every senior boarding student on honors to wanting to continue to have these privileges for the spring trimester. Students don’t want to be stuck in their room when everyone else is out having fun during the last few months of their high school career.

Davey adds, “Seniors complain about homework and the effort on the homework and on in-class assignments starts to decrease. On the positive side, when we do fun group activities, there’s more of an appreciation for that because the weather puts people in better moods. So when I get kids up and moving they are more willing to do that when it’s warm and sunny. But in general it is very difficult to get them to do work.”

Though some students are better at staying on top of things than others, some seniors don’t know that bad grades can ruin their chances at their dream college. College counseling makes it clear that it is possible for a college admissions office to take back a student’s acceptance if they do something slightly out of line or if they let their grades slip. An opportunity like a college education is not worth messing up because you would rather nap than do your homework.