Can We Cure Senioritis?

By Molly Swartz & Abbey Soltis
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     Are you tired all the time?  Do you find yourself waiting until the period before to do your homework? Did you finish that Netflix series before you finished that paper? Chances are, you are a senior.

Diagnosis: Senioritis
Cure: Graduation
 
     We have survived twelve plus years of school. That’s 3000 school lunches, forty-eight quarters, and twenty-four semesters. If there’s anyone who understands the phrase, “I’m so done”, it’s the seniors. Unfortunately, we are not done yet; can we endure this last semester? 

     Senioritis is a disease that is affecting all of the almost four million seniors worldwide. Although it is not a deadly disease, Senioritis can cause many symptoms, all of which are aimed to make life miserable. A lack of motivation, severe procrastination, and being easily agitated are just three components of Senioritis that can result in uncomfortable relationships between you and your friends, teachers, and especially parents. Often, these already uncomfortable relationships will spiral downhill, at a conveniently similar rate as your grades.

     This lack of motivation can come with serious consequences. According to the International College Counselors Program, “A drop in performance can [...] result in consequences such as getting dropped from an honors program or having your admissions postponed”. These are not the only consequences to laziness in the final semester of senior year. The program also stated that colleges can potentially get booted from admission. They explain that “the number of students who get their acceptance offers withdrawn is small as the drop usually needs to be significant before colleges go that far. However, colleges can and do punish in other ways.” These punishments include a warning letter, or an clarification via phone call in order to explain what has occurred with a student’s academic performance.

     The key to beating Senioritis is to stay on top of your responsibilities. Planning and maintaining a schedule will ensure that you will get everything that needs to be completed done, with plenty of room for the special activities that make senior year so great. Although it is hard to stay motivated, keeping yourself on a high level of achievement will benefit you in the long run. 

     Although seniors are striving to stay on top of their responsibilities, many live for after school activities. For example, “Going to the movies is a great way for us to hang out and relax after a tough week of homework and tests,” Michael Lyons says. Many students also enjoy going out to eat with friends. Or, during a busy week, Jeffery Powell says that “playing games like 2K is a fun (yet frustrating) distraction from the pressures of school. Video games can be the perfect way to occupy your brain, while still leaving time for homework and other responsibilities. The combination of the pressure to succeed and the freedom to do what we want is what makes senior year so unique. Just keep the steady balance between the two, and you will find that this last semester is flying by.

     Our four years are almost up. We are applying to colleges and preparing ourselves for the next huge step in our lives; there will be no more waking up at 6 am to get ready to catch the bus. No more of that feeling of not wanting to leave your bed because it's warm and cozy. No more time consuming busywork assignments.  Although there are many aspects of high school we can’t wait to abandon, you should not be surprised when you realize there are going to be activities we are going to miss.  No more Friday night lights at football games. No more intense basketball games, or playing wall ball after school before lacrosse.  We will never dress up and go to another homecoming or prom with our friends. As much as we complain about how we hate school and can’t wait to leave, we need to cherish these last couple of months because nothing will ever be the same. Yet with everything we are going to miss, as we close one door, it leaves us with an open door of opportunity.  Whether you are working towards going to college, the workforce, or into the military, you should see graduation as a start to a new beginning with new memories, friends and successes.