Arguably the most embarrassing moment from junior year was when I was conversating with a senior about senioritis and I mispronounced it as “scene-NOR-ities” for the entire conversation. Despite this moment, I had many takeaways.
The dictionary definition for senioritis is “an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades” (Merriam-Webster). This happens because of years of hard work and the end being so close, that we lose focus. Although we have placed years of effort to get to this point, it is important to finish strong and better prepare for what is ahead. Logically, senioritis are common not only because graduation is very near, but college applications are being submitted, so what is really the point. This viewpoint is harmful, as we know habits last much longer than intended. View senior year this way: during senior year, we turn 18, graduate school, and start our new life. Since we are starting so many things throughout this pivotal year, shouldn’t we be putting our all? I mean, have you heard anyone want to have a poor start?
Statically, senior “sliding” has real world implications, although rare, about 25,000 students have college applications rescinded every year due to poor performance near graduation. These are student already accepted and had their decision reversed due to losing focus, amongst other reasons.
What can we do to finish school strong while also enjoying the end?
Like most things, moderation is key. Some advice is as follows:
· Set a specific amount of time every week simply for schoolwork
· Plan events and experiences around schoolwork
o During our next stages, we would need to balance and school-life and work-life balance, senior year is a great place to start!
· Implement a Floor, ex) “my grades can get below 3.4”
These tips will still allow to make meaningful time for memories as well as setting a strong foundation for our future. It is important to enjoy senior year because it will never come back, but doesn’t this apply for every moment within our lives. If we can build a system which we enjoy ourselves while also remaining productive and having a healthy routine, we are implementing a positive foundation for the remainder of our lives.