Senioritis: the inevitable decline in motivation and performance level that a majority of high school seniors face. Signs of senioritis include a loss of interest, a lack of energy, a decline in work ethic, procrastination, and more. A severe case of senioritis can result in bad grades, excessive absences to school, or tardies to class.
Over the past few years, senioritis has skyrocketed. According to a study in a newsletter from Greenfield High School approximately 78% of high school seniors across the nation have experienced senioritis. If you’re a highschool senior, there’s a high chance you have faced symptoms of senioritis to a certain degree.
After having dealt with senioritis myself, I have discovered and compiled some tips to minimize senioritis symptoms.
The most helpful thing to consider for senior year is which classes to take. It would be a shame to have a miserable year because of undesirable classes. This is the one year, for the most part, that the student has almost full control on how their schedule will look and this will definitely help with actually wanting to be present in class. Everyone’s schedule will vary, but the most important thing to keep in mind are personal priorities and goals.
With that in mind, choose classes wisely. Schools offer a variety of electives during the last two years of high school; it’s important to choose based on your unique interests and priorities to prevent burnout. However, challenging yourself is not always a bad thing as it can serve as a chance to prepare yourself for your future.
For some, that means taking as many AP and dual credit courses as possible and utilizing that opportunity to earn college credit or experience for trade school, which is a great way to get ahead when entering college. Others, like me, for instance, might want to take their senior year as a chance to explore their interests, by taking a variety of electives.
Another aspect that has made this year bearable, at least for me, is to stay involved and busy. Whether it is joining an extracurricular activity or simply attending big events like football games and dances, being involved is the key to lightening the mood and enjoying your last memories of high school.
When there is something to look forward to during the week, or even month, it allows you to focus less on life after high school and more on the present time. Not to mention the remarkable memories created with friends and the new friendships that are built throughout the year may be the best part of it all.
The last but most important factor is to not let procrastination get in the way of academic success. Yes, there will be times where you procrastinate, which is normal, and sometimes even unavoidable, particularly those with busy schedules. For some, they procrastinate more often than others while others might procrastinate once in a blue moon. What matters though, is how you handle procrastination. Procrastination is often viewed as a bad trait but it can actually be beneficial if working under pressure is when you put forth your best effort and be most productive.
Actually, as a huge procrastinator myself, I would say that I complete my best work when I am pressured as it motivates me to put forth my best effort. However, this does not apply to everyone and certainly not for every subject. For writing assignments especially, try not to wait until the last minute to complete them so then you are able to get feedback and assistance in advance if needed.
“Senior year is such a fun year but at the same time it’s scary to think that it’s your last year as a teenager and to think about the future and what it holds,” states Senior Juanita Montoya. She spoke on why she believes senioritis is so prevalent expressing, “after college decisions are made, the rest of the school year drags and can feel academically dreadful or irrelevant which is why the majority of seniors go through senioritis.”
Remember there is no shame in seeking help or asking questions, especially as aspiring college students. Senior year is definitely filled with its unique emotional rollercoaster bumps, consisting of days filled with both dread and excitement, as well as the precious sentimental moments.
The more guidance received earlier on, the better prepared one will be for life after graduation as that is when true independence begins. Senior year may be difficult, but it will be worth it when you’re walking across that stage on graduation.
Good luck to future seniors!
