Tiredness, lack of motivation, and pure exhaustion are all feelings that the majority of seniors are going through. The second semester has begun and that means seniors may be transitioning towards “senioritis,” a word that explains the lack of motivation for school work. While it may sound like that is just a select feeling that a handful of seniors go through, senioritis is real, and it can affect everyone. The thought of college is something that drives many students to work hard, but with decisions already coming through and applications being finished, students may question why they should continue to put themselves back into a cycle of stress.
The urgency of getting school work done is almost nonexistent for many seniors. Many students feel like school is only worth going to for social reasons. Senior Kaili Engle shares her thoughts and feelings so far as a second semester senior. Engle stated, “I come to school everyday for friends and friends alone and Ms. Vela. School has become a very low-tier on my priority list and I have found many other things I can do without school.”
Not surprisingly, many seniors feel the same way about school as Engle does. Senior Julian Jackl voiced his perspective on school at the moment. Jackl shared, “Oftentimes, I will show up late and then leave early. At this point, I only come to school for my friends, and so I can graduate. The motivation definitely is falling off.” Engle and Jackl have a similar outlook on school, both attend to stay social, but feel like there are more important things they could be doing.
Both Engle and Jackl have similar viewpoints on school right now, but senior Kate Griffith has a different reason why she is experiencing senioritis. Griffith stated, “Everything we have ever done in high school has been for college, and once you’re in or you sent all the applications in, it feels like there’s nothing else to do and then it makes me think, why come to school if we already got into college?” Griffith’s mindset on attending school is understandable. If a student has already done all the hard work to get into college and succeeded, then there is no point in continuing to go back to that tiring time period.
The lack of enthusiasm for school is a common pattern among Jackl, Engle, and Griffith and it is loud and clear. The feeling of needing to excel in school has gone down the drain. Many students feel like there is nothing more to do but graduate. However, you can’t blame students for feeling this way. Griffith stated, “As a second semester senior, senioritis has hit me like a train.” Griffith’s willingness to share her feelings shows how hard school has been for seniors. Similarly, Engle is just ready to leave high school for good and expressed, “School has become a burden. I am just ready to be done and ready to get out of here. If I could graduate tomorrow, I would.”
Students have been beaten to the ground with rigorous schoolwork for four years now, and they are tired. Graduation is right around the corner and some students are deciding to leave those missing Canvas assignments untouched and just enjoy having that confetti blow up their screen after they click submit. At the end of the day, acknowledging that you are experiencing senioritis is the first part, but more crucially what you are going to do with that feeling is the most important.
