Mid-autumn is a romantic time. Burnt orange leaves glide to the ground as students convene in classrooms, finally readjusted to their routines. The sun—ahem—shines across your desk through glass panes. The day—sniff—is still bright when the bell rings, and you rush off to meet with friends. Most days, school is a haven—cough—for learning. Cough. Cough. 

Cough. 

Sniffle. 

Ah-choo.

While the fall air is crisp, school air is stuffy, sticky, and slimy with sickness. From classrooms to hallways to campus fields, raspy voices fill the air. Test-taking is a battle between thought and sniffle. Sneezing is the latest trend. Simply put, coming to school sick has become South High culture—a widespread cycle of sickness. 

South High principal Mr. Thomas DePaola confirmed, “One of the unintended consequences of kids coming to school sick is that they’re going to make other kids sick. It creates a domino effect, bringing more germs into our atmosphere.” 

So why do students resist rest? Ultimately, our desire to do well in school is the main reason. Anishka Arolkar, school president and senior, said, “I think [the issue is] really part of the overall Great Neck culture: the competitive, high-achieving mindset. Missing school feels like missing an opportunity. There’s always that pressure to just push through, even when you shouldn’t.”

Mr. DePaola remarked, “In other districts that I’ve worked in, it was often more a social or athletic reason students came to school sick. But [at South] it’s much different because students genuinely want to learn. […] Academics is the highest priority here.”

In fact, many students cite packed schedules, academic “FOMO,” and difficulties with rescheduling exams as reasons why absences are burdensome. It’s true that missing a lesson requires catching up. Making up exams can be stressful when rescheduled dates overlap with other commitments. Taking a sick day means fighting the urge to check Google Classroom every five seconds at home. 

“I remember I came in with a terrible migraine and felt completely drained, but I had an AP Physics lab that I couldn’t risk missing. I pushed through it even though I felt my brain spinning in thirty directions,” Arolkar recalled. “Was it worth it to come in and finish the lab? Honestly, yeah, it saved me from having to redo it later. But would I do it again? Absolutely not.” 

While this culture has been prevalent in years past, Mr. DePaola noted a noticeable increase in the number of students coughing in class over the past few months. Concurrently, many students have begun to cite the new attendance policy as a factor in coming to school sick. 

“I had a friend who was out sick for four days, and our friends were genuinely worried for her, not just health-wise, but about how much she’d missed,” Arolkar admitted. “That says it all. [The new policy] creates a really anxious environment, where people are afraid to miss school and get sick at the same time.” 

So, is not graduating due to sick days realistic? Mr. DePaola revealed that only 30 out of 1300 students reached the benchmark last year. “I think there’s a fear that students are going to be penalized for something that will [most likely] never happen,” he said. “The attendance policy is meant to ensure that students have enough seat time. It’s for those who are chronically cutting.”

Furthermore, the appeals process is designed to ensure that students with legitimate absences don’t fail to receive credit. To stay prepared, make sure to report absences immediately. Thorough records help the process run smoothly when appeals paperwork is submitted. Have a parent or guardian call the attendance office with a specific reason—in most cases, attendance records are simply trust-based. (Doctor’s notes for the common cold are not needed). 

So what should a student do when they’re about to take a sick day? First, take a deep breath. Coming to class sick—your nose red from blowing one too many times—is often considered yet another challenge to overcome. However, resisting recovery can prolong illness. 

Second, remember that documentation must occur within two weeks of an absence. Third, once you begin to recover, make a realistic plan. Check your schedule and communicate with teachers and peers to hit the ground running. 

Finally, let the words of your school president sink in: “Don’t do it. I promise, you’re not going to learn any better than you would resting at home. […] Your health is worth way more than one day of class.”