As the end of high school approaches, many students find themselves dealing with a common affliction: Senioritis. This condition is characterized by a lack of motivation and decreased work ethic in the final semester of senior year. Some dismiss this as a rite of passage, that being burnt out is just part of your experience as a senior. But truthfully, burning out after years of rigorous academic demands is the worst I’ve felt in a long time.
After dedicating countless hours to studying, attending classes, extracurriculars and working after school, many students feel both mentally and physically exhausted. The prospect of their impending freedom just around the corner contributes highly to one’s lack of interest towards their current responsibilities. For many students, the final year of high school is a critical time for academic achievement and personal growth. This apathy can result in missed opportunities for learning and skill development.
I worry the habits and attitudes that are developed during this most stressful time will manifest themselves into future endeavors. Learning to manage responsibilities is a skill that’s important even outside the classroom. I know for myself it has never been harder for me to actually care, nothing seems to matter when the end is so near. With how full my schedule is, I’m finding that my free time is simply spent alone, not wanting to meet with friends or do anything for that matter. Everyone constantly tells students that college will be freeing, but it’s hard to look forward to it when many of us feel like we’re just barely keeping our heads above water.
Senioritis is just a slang term for burning out. It reflects a student’s personal expectations, academic pressure and the desperation to just be over with it already. Students must learn to finish with diligence, keeping their grades up will allow them to embrace the challenges that are faced in the final stretch. This way, students can emerge stronger for the journey ahead.
In my original draft for this piece, I ended it here. This was ironically as a result of my own senioritis. In all honesty I don’t think there’s a complete solution for burnout, we live in such a ‘white knuckle’ society that it seems like anyone who falls behind or succumbs to exhaustion is simply weak or lazy. My friends and family are trying their hardest to be there for me, and I appreciate them for it, but I think that any senior can agree we probably won’t feel better until the school year is actually over.
Talk to your counselors, they are there for a reason, and it’s their job to help you stay on top of your work. Nobody wants you to fail despite how it may seem. Another option is to make sure you take breaks, I personally have enlisted the help of my cousin to be a personal success coach of sorts. I’ve never really been one to make a planner, but having specific details of my day planned out (including breaks and me time) has helped me tremendously.
Remember that you’re just starting the rest of your life, high school isn’t the end of the world.
