Senior year is a stressful time; there is no denying that.

With college admissions at the forefront of virtually everyone’s mind, along with regular school work and whatever fall activity one has going on, it is no wonder that the final year of high school is often a very exciting and anxiety-filled year.

However, for a small minority of the students at Staples high school, senior year may not be as burdensome.

How, you ask? The answer is simple: these students have already verbally committed to college for athletics.

If that sounds like an easy fix to the hassle, it is most definitely not. According to “CBS News,”only around two percent of all high school athletes will ever get to play at the collegiate level.

That said, already committed athletes will be relieved of some of the tensions, like Jordan McNair ’15, who has been recruited for soccer since sophomore year and will be attending Dartmouth University next fall.

When asked about his feelings towards college, McNair stated, “I think there’s a little less stress, but I was never really that stressed to begin with, so it hasn’t affected me.”

To some athletes, however, knowing that they will be playing college sports in 2015 presents a challenge in itself. Ian Burns ’15, who will be attending Columbia University for baseball, elaborated, “I actually feel more pressure to do well this year in school and on the field so I’m prepared for next year.”

Of course, all student-athletes continuing into college must maintain their excellence both in the classroom and on the field, a task that can seem very daunting.

As the senior class edges closer and closer to graduation, there is sure to be many more aspiring young talents earning spots on college rosters.