Senioritis

by Grady Salzman & Emily Durkin

Second semester seniors are being struck with a virus known as Senioritis, causing a lack of interest in anything pertaining to school.

For 75% of the student body, this time of year is like any other. Keeping a stable GPA, studying for the ACT, and an overall continued dedication to school are just a few priorities. For the other 25%, however, their list of priorities includes doing as little work as possible. They are second semester seniors suffering from a debilitating case of senioritis.
Senioritis is usually diagnosed by the student themselves, friends or in extreme cases, a teacher. Symptoms of senioritis include procrastination, apathy toward school work, increased wearing of gym class-acceptable apparel, and regular use of the phrase, “whatever, it doesn’t matter anymore.” These symptoms usually kick in the exact moment the acceptance letter from the college of their choice is torn open. They read the line, “Congratulations! You have been acc…” then exhale in relief. The only known cure for this condition is an event known as graduation.
To most seniors, the second semester is simply a waiting room for the next stage in life. The overwhelming feeling of being “done” sweeps over them. They feel they have extracted everything they can from their pre-college education, and find themselves stuck in the waiting room of life for months. They impatiently sit there until their name is called and they can walk across the stage to receive their diploma, finally leaving high school behind.
As spring break approaches, senioritis is at it’s peak, but most students seem to overlook the consequences of the condition. Colleges do look at final semester grades, and can, in fact, revoke your acceptance letter. News that you are no longer accepted to your college can also come at a very difficult time. Students must commit to a school by May 1, but colleges won’t receive final transcript until after graduation. This causes prospective students to, in some cases, learn as late as August that they have no place to go in the fall, or have lost some of their scholarships.
But what can you do to stop senioritis? Everyone is always deserving of a little down time – the trick is to not make your whole day downtime. Budget your time, and do about an hour of school work each night in order to maintain your GPA. Another trick is to not forget why you need to keep your grades up. Continually look at the benefits of having good grades, such as keeping the scholarships you have already earned, holding onto that acceptance letter, or even something as simple as just graduating on time.
Whether or not you’re being affected by senioritis, the 25% is of the school that will be gone in three months, and leaving for college soon after. Ferris Bueller assured us that life moves pretty fast, and current seniors can agree with that, knowing that their life is completely changing in a matter of six months. So, is it their fault they want to chillax for a while before they have to completely uproot themselves? No way. As long as the student passes senior English and government, they practically already have their diploma in hand. And that is cause for celebration.