As graduation creeps closer everyday, the temptation to fly under the radar grows stronger. As the countdown to summer gets shorter, motivation fades, especially for seniors. But students persevere and continue to find ways to push themselves to the finish line.
While the final quarter of the year is rapidly approaching, upperclassmen tend to fall into a cycle of procrastination. For the soon-to-be graduates, this time of the school year is typically loaded with prepping for AP exams, finalizing ACT scores and finishing college applications.
Some seniors have tried to accept their “senioritis,” which is a term used to describe the academic burnout senior students feel, and use it as a mental hiatus from maintaining their responsibilities. With most of their credits out of the way, students have reported finding it easier to coast along while also keeping subpar grades.
“For me, I don’t really try to avoid senioritis. I embrace it, the more I try to avoid it the more burnt out I get,” said Saira Salas, 12.
Upperclassmen have reported, now that they have been accepted into college, they don’t see the point in trying anymore which further pivots students’ motivation from focusing on school to focusing on future education or their current jobs.
According to EBSCO, students may give in to senioritis because they feel burned out from school. For high school seniors, they can finally see the finish line after twelve required years of learning. Once they are accepted into the college of their choice, students may view it as securing their future and then think it’s okay to slack off during their final year.
Teachers also try to give reason to the phenomenon, but they don’t excuse it. Teachers of seniors at Rogers High School have found ways to combat senioritis rather than allowing students to slip up in their final moments of public school.
“I believe students see the end in sight, and they are so excited to reach the great milestone that is graduation that they slack off, but I encourage students to create planners to stay on top of deadlines and prepare for college,” said Marsha Hudson, English teacher.
In addition to getting assistance from teachers, students can also find their own methods to maintain responsibilities and avoid burnout. Trying new studying methods like peer groups or tutoring can help hold students accountable. Individual tactics could be things like creating to-do lists, calendars, or schedules to set aside time specifically for assignments or homework.
