Late April would normally be a hellish time for students across the nation. With the end of the year approaching, the weather warming, and AP exams drawing closer and closer, school work is typically not only more stressful but also more difficult as well. 

This year, however, on top of all of that, we have to deal with the ramifications of a global pandemic. The pandemic has a multitude of possible consequences on students like the possible deterioration of their own health, the health of their families, and less financial stability. Then, there is the less pressing, but equally widespread, issue of procrastination and loss of work ethic among students. 

Personally, it was hard to even bring myself to write this article. Not because it’s particularly draining or difficult, but purely because right now I just don’t want to. There doesn’t seem to be anything motivating me besides a slight sense of guilt hovering somewhere in the back of my mind. And why would I bother sitting at my desk to write an article when I could continue to lay in my bed, scrolling through Instagram, occasionally letting out a small laugh at a particularly funny TikTok and not using a single brain cell? 

Without in-person school and the threat of having to explain to your teacher in-person why you haven’t done your work, it seems that practically everyone, not just myself, has been struggling to stay motivated. 

Senior Olivia Hurley said, “In the past two weeks I’ve emailed two of my teachers telling them I can’t write their essays because my work ethic is so bad being at home. On top of having senioritis, being at home 25/7 is really hard… I’ve literally spent the past two hours writing an essay, and I’ve written a paragraph because I’ve just been scrolling through TikTok.”

Junior Sebastian Stafford said, “With the novelty of staying home having worn off a little while ago, I’m struggling to find the motivation to complete homework in a timely fashion, as night after night I end up starting it around 9:30. I just don’t feel the same commitment to my academic assignments as I once did, as they seem inconsequential now.”

This pandemic of procrastination has even trickled down to the Middle School. Eighth grader Hazel Budker said, “Ever since we have been doing virtual poly, my work ethic went down extremely and the main factor for that is knowing our grades cannot drop and can only improve.”

Whether it is due to senioritis, a sense of futility or the absence of negative consequences, the beast that is procrastination has reared its ugly head, and its effects are taking a toll upon the whole school. In fact, the only reason I am writing this right now is because I am avoiding doing my math and history homework for tomorrow.