Senioritis. Its symptoms include inability to complete homework, lack of effort and the abysmal inclination to party excessively. We’ve all seen it — we know someone who has been seduced into the depths of this malady.

Unfortunately, in modern America, seniors aren’t the only ones infected with this deadly virus. American teenagers are loosing interest in academics faster than you can say “Facebook” and test scores are “dropping it like it’s hot.”

But the time has come to face the facts. In reality, “senioritis,” is nothing more than a socially-acceptable excuse for the not-so-appealing synonym: laziness. And as history teacher Jason Pendleton would say, “Excuses are the stepping stones on the pathway to mediocrity.” Mediocrity might barely be enough to earn a diploma on graduation day, but it definitely won’t get us jobs.

Americans are becoming less competitive in the international economy as nations like China and India compete for the title of “Super-power.”

Our partners abroad are beginning to reap in the benefits of the very work ethic that we once championed as inherently American.

My question is: where is your competitive spirit America? And no, I’m not talking about the who-can-get-more-pigs-on-their-Farmville-farm kind of competition; I am referring to the sort of healthy competition that sparks innovation and modernization.

Our generation will inevitably face challenges like climate change, depleting oil reserves, nuclear proliferation, (and bears oh my), all of which we are woefully incapable of combating. That is, at least, until we “lose the ‘tude.”

Perhaps this destructive ‘tude ingrained in America’s youth culture is a product of Western society, which tends to champion mediocrity.

Our generation is known as the “Trophy generation” because everyone, win or lose, goes home with a prize. Our society advocates mediocrity over hurt-feelings and ordinary over angry-phone-call-from-ordinary kid’s Mom.

Unfortunately for us, however, in the competitive global economy, not everyone is a winner. Job applicant A doesn’t get the position because ‘his granny thinks he’s special.’

Pendleton warns his students about what he refers to as “the ‘wussification’ of the American education system.

“We have become too focused on the development of self-esteem,” Pendleton said. “We aren’t prepping students to overcome adversity. Self-esteem is important, but only when it is based on a legitimate accomplishment.”

Come on guys, when the Black Eyed Peas start changing the words from “Where is the love” to “Obama, let’s get these kids educated,” we know its about time to stop watching football and sit down and do that darned math homework.

Let’s be extra-ordinary Southwest. Lets be extra-ordinary America.