Senioritis is “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance”.
When I asked Seniors how hard they were hit by senioritis I got everywhere from “not at all” to manic laughter. One student who previously worked three to four hours a night now works for around twenty minutes. Another just goes home, curls up in a ball, and watches YouTube videos.
Those who have not gotten more laid back have become more disillusioned with high school and just want it to be over. One student now devotes more of his time to classes he doesn’t take at the high school that he enjoys, rather than the ones he gets a grade for.
Those in earlier grades may look for advice as to how to stay motivated during their second semester. The main advice offered seems to be: set small goals, devote some of your time to just yourself, take some easy classes, and improve your study habits. The truth of the matter is, the self help tips given for senioritis are similar to ones given for high school in general.
So here’s the harsher tips: bad second semester grades can affect your college acceptance and your financial aid. The same way colleges notice improvement, they notice decline. While getting a B in a class you previously had a A in will certainly not get your acceptance revoked, if you drop to a C or D average, you may be one of the thousands of students each year who do.
Enjoy your senior year, you will most likely earn it after all the hard work you put in, but don’t fall off the ball you worked so hard to keep balanced on.