Senioritis (noun): a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance. Seniors, does that sound familiar? If you answered yes, you are not alone. You have officially reached the point in your high school career where you, well, probably don’t care as much as you did three years ago. Graduation is in two months, you have more than likely already decided on a college, and prom is quickly approaching! Could life get any better? I sat down with a few Oswego High School seniors and got their input on how they’ve dealt (or not) with senioritis in their final stretch of high school.
Do you have senioritis? How do you know?
Natalie Kunert
“Yes. I’m tired of coming every day.”
Shannon Torrez
“Yes. I’m simply just ready to get out of here.”
Hayden Bielawski
“Yes. I have no motivation to do any of my school work, such as homework, tests, study, etc.”
Griffin Stiles
“Yes. I really cannot wait to get out of here and go to basic training for the Army. It’s not even funny anymore, I really don’t want to go to any of my classes anymore.”
When did you begin experiencing signs of senioritis?
Natalie Kunert
“Late junior year. It’s like I had junioritis, too.”
Shannon Torrez
“Right after we came back from winter break. The thought that we had just one more semester of high school kind of killed me…I just want it to be over.”
Hayden Bielawski
“Toward the end of junior year. It fully kicked in this past November when I figured out where I was going to go to college and play baseball.”
Griffin Stiles
“This past summer, basically, because I really wish I would have graduated last year.”
What do you think caused you to begin experiencing senioritis?
Natalie Kunert
“The fact that I enlisted in the Marines, and I’m ready to leave for boot camp.”
Shannon Torrez
“The anticipation of college. I’m ready for a fresh start with a new town, new people, and to be done with the same old high school routine.”
Hayden Bielawski
“Wanting to leave and summer to come back around, because I love playing summertime baseball. The thought of the new college atmosphere and lifestyle, too.”
Griffin Stiles
“Wanting to just graduate, get into the Army and start my career in law enforcement.”
How have you coped (or not coped) with senioritis?
Natalie Kunert
“I simply haven’t.”
Shannon Torrez
“ by keeping in mind that graduation is not too far away, and once that comes, I’ll never have to go back .”
Hayden Bielawski
“ by keeping up on important assignments to keep my grades up so I can successfully graduate, even though I give the least amount of effort possible. Just enough to get by.”
Griffin Stiles
“ because I know I can’t get out of here any sooner, so I have to stick to my current routine.”
Do you have any advice for the underclassmen when it comes to dealing with senioritis?
Natalie Kunert
“Come to school, don’t miss too many days, and take I.C.E.
so you can leave school early, go work, and make money.”
Shannon Torrez
“Even though senioritis sucks and you just want to be done, keep in mind that the end is near. Keep pushing through it, because flunking senior year could ruin your chances of experiencing all the fun in your future.”
Hayden Bielawski
“Take your first three years seriously and put in the most amount of effort you’re capable of, because senior year will be a breeze if you keep up earlier on. You’ll also be able to really enjoy the social aspect of high school and have fun later on.”
Griffin Stiles
“Try and graduate early. That’s going to be your best bet. Either a whole year early or a semester early your senior year. Taking online classes helps, too.”
Fortunately, no senior is alone when it comes to battling senioritis. Whether you’re a straight-A student or failing a few of your classes, don’t give up just yet, Panthers—there are still nearly three months left of school. Just think: it’ll be graduation day before you know it!
Related:
I’m Dylan Jahnke, and this is my second year with 42Fifty, which I first joined as a staff member. I am a senior at Oswego High School, and I plan to study mass communications/music management in college. I hope to one day have my own radio talk show or get into artist management. If I’m not writing or editing for 42Fifty, I’m either working at Culver’s, hanging out with friends and family, or doing homework. I am humbled to say I began my 42Fifty career my junior year as a staff writer, then Arts & Entertainment editor first semester of my senior year and now Editor-in-Chief.
