Why I will never "senior skip"

By Ria Patel

Art by Catherine Ferguson

Many seniors have been confused if “senior skip,” the privilege that allows 12th-graders to skip underclassmen in various lines across campus, still exists this year.

“I don’t see why not,” Head of Upper School Lauren Rogers said. “This is a year to preserve traditions at St. Mary’s and to do it in ways we haven’t done before . . . including senior privileges.”

However, I, a senior at St. Mary’s Episcopal School, condemn “senior skip.”

As a frustrated freshman, I did not understand why a 12th-grader could skip me in the cafeteria line simply because she was older than I was. However, when I vented my concerns to seniors, I was told that I would understand the privilege when I got older. 

However, when my first opportunity to use “senior skip” came in August of my senior year in the COVID testing line, I failed to understand the logic behind this privilege. Seeing a 15-minute line out the gymnasium door, I passed by underclassmen and middle schoolers and arrived at the beginning of the line. A junior instinctively moved aside as I took my spot at the beginning of the queue. I felt shame; the joy of saving fifteen minutes of waiting time was overshadowed by guilt.

As Ms. Isaacs called for the next person in line to come forward, I instead removed myself from the line. 

“You go,” I ushered the confused junior behind me, walking back to my rightful spot at the rear of the line. Each of these students had waited fifteen minutes in line to get tested; it was only fair that I did too. My time is no more valuable than that of other students, including underclassmen.