Seven Ways to Cure Senioritis

As we head into the final quarter of the school year, we recognize a state of mind that many seniors may have as they navigate their last days of school.  They have just returned from their Senior Trip with all of their classmates, and they are now busy getting ready to present their Senior Thesis Defenses. While trying to remain focused on the tasks at hand in their classes, the impending unknowns of the future and the looming graduation celebrations in the next weeks can be distracting, leaving our seniors susceptible to the dreaded senioritis.

Senioritis is defined as a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance. An ebbing of motivation and effort by high school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades.

Monica Ware, a College Counselor at Great Hearts Anthem, says senioritis can happen any time of year but is especially common after winter break during the student’s senior year. “This can happen for many reasons, but with the future getting closer in sight and yet also feeling far away, senior year can end on a bad note if you aren’t disciplined.” Miss Ware asked seniors what their tips are to keep senioritis at bay. While there may not be a complete cure for senioritis as we stated in the title of this article, we believe these peer tips are great treatments for the condition. Ware wants to remind seniors to reach out to your family, friends, teachers, and College Counselors at your school to stay to help you stay on track to graduate with a positive attitude.

Here are some tips taken directly from some of our great-hearted seniors:

• Don’t rely too much on caffeine! You may be able to drink energy drinks, coffee, or other caffeinated beverages but remember that this will not necessarily help you focus. Nothing can replace a good night of sleep!
• Sleep! Don’t stay up too late, be on social media too often at night, or procrastinate with your schoolwork.
• Prepare for your Senior Thesis – remember that your Thesis Defense is the culmination of all of your hard work. Make sure that you know your thesis inside and out and that you have asked your advisors questions you may be concerned about.
• Don’t work too many hours if you have a part-time job. Try to not prioritize a job over your mental health and school workload.
• Create healthy habits – continue to read your assigned reading each night for Humane Letters and prepare for the seminars. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone and ask questions often! Attend tutoring and ask for help if you start to lose momentum. Let your teachers know right away if you are struggling to remain focused.
• Stay engaged in your classes and at your school. Attend leadership meetings and think about how you will make an impact on your school as a whole. Ask to do the morning announcements, read to elementary students in Archway, volunteer to lead study sessions, or figure out a way to make a positive contribution to your campus culture. This can keep you excited and happy to go to school each day.
• Don’t think TOO much about your future plans. If you have a concrete plan for the future, that is wonderful but also remember that these are your last days of high school and you won’t get this time back!

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