As the school year for seniors comes to a close in just under three weeks, it’s not uncommon or surprising to see them running around grocery stores or restaurants with floaties, goggles or brightly colored water guns. These abnormalities can easily be attributed to the game that has taken the senior population of the nation by storm: Senior Assassin.
Senior Assassin is a grade level water gun fight where duos are required to get another pair before the week-long round ends. The game goes on until one person or duo is crowned winner, which will likely be around the end of May. This game began with 224 people and there are now 71 people remaining. Players put $5 to $10 into the prize pot for the winner.
Rules vary based on the school, but players at this school are granted immunity from their assassins by wearing goggles around their neck, over their eyes or on their head. Each round there is a purge day, where anyone can get anyone, and a no immunity day. In the recent years since Senior Assassin has become more prevalent, seniors regulate the game through the app Splashin. This app has made it easier for the self appointed admin of the game to assign targets each round.
As the majority of seniors are committed to a college and the school year wraps up for them, there isn’t much school work that they have to stress over. This gives them the free time and flexibility to find their targets for hours, and just have fun. “I think that it is really fun and it is a good way to get the grade to interact with each other before we all go our separate ways when it is played safely,” senior Caitlin Dexter said.
The game also requires a lot of strategic planning. Seniors have to use their connections with their friends and acquaintances in order to eliminate their target. This can mean they have to “betray” a friend. “My favorite part of senior assassin was trying to help my friends get their targets,” Dexter said.
However, while the game may be fun and carry a lighthearted intent, it still poses risks. Teenagers are impulsive and carefree by nature, so this could lead them to play the game in an unsafe manner. In 2024 MCPS issued a community statement warning families of the dangers of partaking in Senior Assassin, “It is reported that students who play this game may also engage in dangerous behaviors such as reckless driving and trespassing, and there are reports of teenagers in public parking lots with water guns. The use of water guns, as they resemble weapons, can cause alarm and lead to unintended situations where someone may feel threatened or scared,” MCPS said.
Additionally, after the shooting that occurred at this school in February, seniors had to be extra cautious when they played. In order to prevent anxiety and panic, both the school’s property and Robert Frost Middle School’s property were safe zones. This means that players can’t be eliminated and water guns can not be seen.
If played right, Senior Assassin can be an exciting and entertaining way to close out the school year and end of high school. It’s just important seniors are responsible and cautious while playing.
