As we leave the snowiest winter in Boston history and enter into a beautiful New England spring, seniors are finding that their time at the high school is drawing to its end. College decisions are being made, prom and graduation are starting to feel tangible and senioritis is in full swing.

Yet one crucial requirement stands in the way of receiving a diploma on June 7: the senior paper. Passing this 8-10 page paper (or, in some classes, a project of comparable workload), based on 500 pages of reading is mandated by the school. Although its timing may at first seem inopportune, this assignment is ultimately beneficial for the senior class, and it is appropriate to write it during the 2nd semester.

For many seniors, the paper’s timing means it has little effect on college acceptance, and, as a result, students are often less stressed.

“I like teaching students when the pressure is off, and I tell them, now’s the time you can learn for learning’s sake,” English Curriculum Coordinator Mary Burchenal said.

However, students feel pressure to pass the paper to graduate. Nevertheless, Burchenal is absolutely correct in thinking that students can focus more on learning after the college process.

“It’s designed to be a culmination of four years of reading, writing and thinking in the discipline of English,” Burchenal said.

This culmination might seem to be poorly timed, given the decreased pressure on student success. However, writing the paper at the same time as college applications, during the 1st semester, would be far worse.

According to Burchenal, the English department has considered placing this assignment during junior year, but with standardized testing, college tours and more, the paper would be even more out of place.

“I like the senior paper falling where it does, despite the fact that any place you put it is a terrible time to put it,” Burchenal said.

Burchenal said that some students who have struggled with English class find the senior paper very rewarding. Her rationale can, and should, be applied to the senior class at large.

“They get pushed to a place where they really have to come through,” Burchenal said. “They can’t slack off, they can’t hide, they have to produce this thing, and it will drive them crazy. And sometimes their teachers are sticklers, and they have to redo it, and eventually they come up with products, that they’re like ‘Woah, I didn’t even know I could do that.’ Sometimes, those are the students that have the greatest success stories.”

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