For all seniors at UC High, the last semester has finally arrived. As it’s officially graduation year, the relief of completing midterms is unmatched, yet returning full swing back to school brings on the phenomenon of what high schoolers call Senioritis. This is a time when seniors are simply burnt out, and may even stop showing up to school more and more College apps have been submitted, the first set of finals are over, and it’s the final stretch before graduation arrives. After four long years, any twelfth grader would naturally be tired. It’s easy to fall into the habit of skipping school and slacking on homework, yet there are ways to combat Senioritis.
The feeling of not having to work very hard to reach graduation is an easy trap to fall into; however, setting goals and becoming organized allows for everything to feel smoother, and may make it seem like there is less work than there actually is. One college website suggests that creating a few short and long term goals that are tangible will allow seniors to remember what exactly they are working towards (snhu.edu).
The workload may seem overwhelming and that’s why staying organized is essential, making sure to have a planner and writing down daily, weekly, and monthly events will help each individual feel like they are accomplishing everything as they cross off each task. Future events or deadlines feel far more tangible when they are written down, which helps with time management. The worst thing for a senior would be to fall behind and have to catch up (snhu.edu).
An additional struggle presents itself for seniors who are starting to slip out of a school-oriented mindset during the last semester. Senior Kai Anderson said, “Although some people may think Senioritis is not a big deal, it’s a growing problem that affects many seniors on campus.” Anderson is already committed to a college, which feeds into the struggle of Senioritis, as many seniors feel they just need to pass in order to graduate, potentially leading to worsening grades. As college decisions begin to roll out through the next few months, this struggle will only grow.
Another great way to fight Senioritis is to embrace a change of scenery when studying or doing homework. The same repetitive routine can create a feeling of being trapped in an everyday cycle, which is a guaranteed way to burn out. Take studying to a cute coffee shop, a library, the beach, or simply a friend’s house; a new setting or even including people can drastically change one’s mindset about finishing school. Some weeks might just need to be taken day by day, but seniors must remember how close the end goal is, and not ruin something that has been worked so hard for (usnews.com).
Last but not least, one of the best ways to battle the struggle of Senioritis is to make sure to not deprive oneself from having fun. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and engulfed in the senior year workload, but there are many fun things to look forward to during the school year. For example, seniors can look forward to events like the senior tailgate party, senior breakfast, the theme park trip, the senior grad party, and school dances including Prom, the most anticipated of them all. Anderson said, “Being more involved with school events, participating in things, and building enriched relationships with teachers are definitely good ways to stay motivated and push through the struggles of Senioritis, and of course have fun.” Importantly, making lots of memories with friends that will never be forgotten is without a doubt one of the best parts of high school.
Senior Leenoy Barkhorador said, “Sometimes school days seem so long and never ending. All I want to do is get to Friday so I can go out with friends.” Many seniors are constantly looking forward to the weekend in order to go out and have a good time, keeping them going for their last few months in high school. Many people argue that senior year is the best year before adulthood; therefore, it’s important to make the most out of it even when times may get stressful.
Taking a break throughout the year can often be needed, but it’s important not to lose sight of what is so close to becoming a reality. Taking care of one’s mental health is crucial when things get stressful, so don’t let all the stress and worries of senior year let the joys and excitement be taken away. Combating the rising problem of senioritis is a genuine struggle, but there are many ways to keep one’s spirits lifted to finish out the year.