Photo courtesy: @paranoialf26 on Instagram

Paranoia is not about fear- it is about survival. 

At least that’s what participants of the LFHS paranoia game tell themselves. 

Since April 1st, Lake Forest has turned into a war zone. From dodging through cars and ducking behind bushes, the only “safe zone” for seniors nowadays is when the clock strikes midnight on Sunday morning. 

Paranoia, also known as “senior assassin” across the country, is a popular tradition among LFHS seniors during the spring season. The premise of the game is simple: beat out your competitors by “killing” them with Nerf guns, before they can “kill” you. 

Split into teams of ten, you’re paired against another senior group to eliminate as many of your opponents as you can before the week is over. Strategy is a must, and grit is crucial. 

The name Paranoia is more than fitting, from being nervous about your competitor sneak attacking you, or fear of being kicked out of your enemies’ back lawn- your senses are constantly heightened through participation in the game. 

Every year, a senior steps up to organize the tournament. An Instagram account is made where kills, rules, and other information are posted for seniors to acknowledge. The brains behind this year’s competition are shared between two co-organizers. 

Similar to years in the past, LFHS’s paranoia game follows a strict set of rules- no shooting during school hours, no attacks coming to and from work/ sports practices, locations on *always*, and no entering a competitor’s house without invitation. 

As expected, LFHS seniors aren’t going down without a fight. Thinking outside the box is a must when seeking victory in this tactical game. From two hour bush hideouts to gaslighting competitors’ relatives into invitations in their home, seniors have

gotten experimental with kill strategies. 

With that being said, a sense of unity is brought amongst the senior class through the gritty game. 

“The Paranoia game is actually teaching the Seniors essential life skills in learning how to communicate, leadership, trust, and collaboration. I have seen in the Senior Commons during Paranoia that the seniors are building camaraderie, empathy, and reducing conflict, boosting morale, and encouraging critical thinking,” said senior class advisor Laurie Hektor. 

In the same way, seniors have felt themselves branching out within their weekly matchups. Between witty banter and secret stalking, paranoia strangely births friendships even as second-semester seniors. 

“Since paranoia started, I feel like I’ve talked to so many more people that I haven’t really talked to before. I think it’s cool that even though we’re trying to shoot each other with Nerf Guns, and that we’re against each other, we can still become friends and form alliances for the next few weeks,” said senior participant Ella Nanini. 

The game has been nothing short of efficiently operated since the start. One of the organizers of the game, Colin MacAurthur, has dedicated time and attention to ensuring seamlessness. Even as an organizer, he himself is excited for the action that comes with the senior game. 

“Since it’s toward the end of the year, there’s less pressure from school, which will make it (paranoia) more fun. It’s also fun to see the competitiveness that our teams have shown and the friendly banter between each other,” said MacArthur. 

Paranoia is a classic here at LFHS, and thanks to the game, lasting memories will be made in our final weeks of high school.

Seniors- stay strapped, stay alert, and stay alive. Happy hunting!