“The only reason I would go on the senior cruise is to sell my kidney in Mexico to pay for college.”

 

Senior satire is one of the things that bonds the graduating class of 2017. Regardless of this topic, some senior somewhere probably has made a joke that has truth poking out of it. The satire-infused comments are not meant to be negative, but to bring a positive laughter out of a serious issue that UME seniors face.

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Laughter fills the portable as an English 4 class researches how much a kidney costs. Giggles and light-hearted smiles come to a halt when a group of seniors realizes that the black market in Mexico will pay over $70,000 for a bad kidney. The tone got even more serious when someone pointed out that you only need one kidney. “I could go to college AND buy a car,” senior Matt Fennig exclaimed. The shocking news provided an answer to the college talk in an hysterical way. The heavy topic was burst back into laughter when 12th grade Lindsay Wyrick said the only way she would go on the senior cruise would be to pay for college.

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Other satire floats along the class with comments about taking shots of bleach before midterms, having a spring senior ditch day (“satire”, don't take this seriously), and dropping out because of stress levels. These examples and more take the gravity of experiences and turn it into something that reflects joy. It acknowledges the pressure of of adulting and still lets the oldest in the school laugh like the kindergarteners.

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The truth is senior year is rough, sticky, and complicated, but laughter brings harmony to the seniors. Sometimes after pulling three all-nighters in one week, it is nice to come to school and be able to throw your worries behind you in laughter.

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2-17-17