Senior year is the last leg of the race you have been running since age five. Now, as a senior, you’re in the last leg of the race. But instead of feeling the exhilaration of nearing the finish line, it’s like you’re running through a fog so thick you can’t even see the tape ahead. Welcome to senioritis. Senior year, for many, is like stumbling into a mental fog bank. The once-clear goals and ambitions are obscured by a haze of indifference. You’re so close to the finish line, yet it feels impossibly distant.
Formally defined, senioritis is a lack of motivation that plagues many in their final year of high school. It’s like a gravitational pull stronger than the combined force of every motivational speech ever given. You find yourself procrastinating on assignments, unable to muster the energy to care about anything school-related. “I remember when I actually cared about my grades,” said senior Avery Braswell, “Now all I care about is surviving until graduation.”.
Survival becomes the name of the game. Where they were once-bright-eyed and bushy-tailed students are, now experts in the art of navigating the school day while being mentally checked out. It’s a skill, really, one honed through hours of practice and perfected with each passing day.
But amidst the haze of senioritis, it’s essential not to lose sight of the bigger picture. While the allure of coasting through senior year may be tempting, the consequences can be dire. Colleges and future employers don’t tend to look kindly on transcripts littered with lackluster grades and half-hearted efforts. “I want to focus on enjoying my last year of high school, but also want to maintain my GPA,” said senior, Kate Tully
And therein lies the challenge. How do you strike a balance between savoring the fleeting moments of senior year and staying focused enough to cross the finish line with your dignity intact? “I used to be so diligent about my schoolwork,” said Lydia Dukes. “But now, I am only dedicated to finishing Pretty Little Liars before graduation trying to figure it out myself, but
Perhaps the answer lies in embracing the chaos, finding humor in the struggle, and remembering that this, too, shall pass. Senioritis may be a rite of passage, but it doesn’t have to define your final year of high school.
