On Tuesday, January 8th 2019, after much anticipation, an email was sent out to Webb’s senior class detailing a list of senior privileges. The list included six privileges:

1. Off-campus lunch: Seniors may ask permission from the Deans to go off-campus for lunch on any weekday, provided they have a free period that coincides with the lunch, or a Monday or Wednesday (long lunch period) and they will not miss a scheduled Health & Living class.
2. Ordering food: Seniors are allowed to order food during study hours 7/7:30 to 10:00 p.m.. All food must be delivered by 10:00 p.m. so seniors can still have plenty of time to be back in their dorms for 10:30 p.m. check-in. 
3. Late Sunday return: Seniors may return to campus on Sundays from an 8-hour pass, two hours extra than the typical 6-hour or an overnight pass by 7:30 p.m. on Sunday nights, unless there is a Sunday Chapel and Community Dinner scheduled, in which case they must return by 5:30 p.m.
4. Thursday night dinner off-campus (must be back by check-in, which include the same sign-out rules as Tuesday night dinner).
5. Taxi/Uber (if allowed) use for Tuesday and Thursday night off-campus dinners. Must be 18 with permissions.

6. WSC neatly groomed facial hair.

For those who are unfamiliar with what senior privileges are, they include a list that grants certain advantages for the senior class once second semester begins. The reasoning behind this tradition is that life at the top, after four grueling years, should come with some benefits.  

When I was a freshman, I would look at the seniors, envious of the second semester privileges they had. They all seemed so happy and at ease; I could hardly wait until I had the opportunity to experience that same feeling.

Although underclassmen might feel envious, the anticipation of becoming a senior and gaining such privileges is part of the fun of high school. Seniors are experiencing the most hectic period of high school. They have genuinely earned the privileges.

Emily Schoffman (‘19) elaborated on the senior privileges. She said, “We’ve worked so hard leading up to a point where we deserve the leash to be loosened.”

Drew Hersch (‘19) voiced a similar opinion. Drew said, “Simply put, seniors deserve privileges because of how they’ve worked to get where they are.”

Joyce Yuan (‘19) said she was a bit disappointed with her senior privileges. “I was hoping that I would be able to Uber with someone who is 18. I still can’t uber because I’m not 18 yet.”

Claire Wagner (‘19) said, “There is only one privilege for day students and everything else is for borders. Unless you’re a dude and have a beard.”

Interested to hear the perspective of a junior, I interviewed Helina Zhao (‘20) what her opinion on senior privileges are. She said, “We have senior privileges for a reason, and the seniors have worked hard. It’s something they deserve; this is a time where they can relax and enjoy their last moments as seniors.

Privileges are a responsibility. With maturity comes responsibility. Senior year is also a time to appreciate the lasts with your class. The last college application, the last test, and the last group events.

As a senior who is experiencing the luxury of privileges, it feels incredibly rewarding to take time to appreciate all the hard work that my classmates and I have put in after working so hard for the last three years.