Senior year is something that every student looks forward to most of their school life. When it finally comes time to graduate most can hardly wait. This causes something that people call “senioritis,” a decline in motivation and academic performance that students, particularly seniors in high school or college, may experience as they approach the end of their studies.
As a senior myself, I have experienced this, especially towards the end of this school year when all the things are falling into place, and it is beginning to feel real. We are all very excited to begin a new chapter in our lives but also a little sad for this chapter to end.
A survey conducted by Omniscient found that 78% of seniors reported having senioritis. This suggests that senioritis is a common experience for many high school seniors.
This chapter of any senior’s life might cause them to feel many different emotions: happiness, sadness, grief, frightfulness, anxiety, and hope are just some of the few.
Caden Livingston, a senior, shared, “I am very excited to graduate, and I definitely am experiencing senioritis everyday I have to come to school.”
Some students experience burnout and anxiety, leading to a feeling of dread as graduation approaches. They may even see their grades start to slip because of their lack of motivation in their classes. This is often blamed on the excitement of the upcoming graduation and new chapter in their lives.
Many teachers struggle with their seniors, especially in the second semester as graduation is nearing the end.
Alexis McNabb, an English teacher of seniors, expressed, “Senioritis is definitely something that my students are getting hit hard with at the moment! It can be tough to hang in and keep your focus when you have graduation day just around the corner! It is a trying, though exciting, time for our seniors and as long as they keep the end goal in mind, they will get there!”
In the end, while senioritis may be a rite of passage for many, staying focused and motivated can make the final stretch of high school both meaningful and rewarding.
