Senior year is the last year of high school, and many former high school students have mixed opinions about their experience during this time. The year is typically a very emotional and busy time for students, with many having to balance the stress of college applications, financial worries, heavy workloads and anticipation (whether that be positive or negative) about the future. The year is also often described as bittersweet and nostalgic, with students feeling sadness and anxiety about leaving their previous lives behind but also excitement for the future.
This combination of emotions can often lead to a severe drop in motivation and academic performance in the later parts of a student’s high school career. This phenomenon has been referred to as ‘senioritis’ or ‘senior burnout.’ Many people theorize that this can be caused by a student seeing the ‘finish line’ as they approach graduation, leading to procrastination and potentially even failing grades. Despite this ‘condition’ being often seen as a joke, the associated behavior can have consequences, such as revoked college admissions in the case where a student’s GPA drops drastically, lost scholarships, and even failed classes that can hold students back from graduating.
According to the ACT website, “Understanding the definition of senioritis is important for recognizing its symptoms and finding ways to stay on track during this critical final stretch of high school.”
Besides procrastination, senior burnout can also lead to a student becoming unfocused, turning in work that is below their usual standard or even feeling like school no longer matters once their plans have been finalized. Even though this sense of apathy is common, it’s not considered the norm, and many colleges still keep an eye on students’ grades in the last semester of high school with the expectation that the student will finish the year strong.
In extreme cases when this expectation is not met, some colleges may rescind their offer and leave the student struggling to find alternative options or place them on academic probation during the student’s first semester at the university (limiting courses and requiring tutoring).
Furthermore, senioritis can also lead to a scholarship being lost. Many scholarships are merit-based, and a student having a drop in their GPA due to doing poorly in a class may cause this scholarship to be lost if conditions are no longer met. The loss of a scholarship may lead students to struggle with finding other means to pay for their education. Moreover, if a student fails a required class, their graduation may be pushed back, and if a student fails an AP exam, they may lose the credit(s) they worked for.
According to the ACT website, “Senioritis can affect your class rank, limit your leadership roles and even leave gaps in your extracurricular involvement. These are all qualities that admissions officers, scholarship committees and future employers consider when making decisions.”
However, there are many ways to prevent and deal with senioritis, some of which include keeping a positive attitude and taking care of yourself. Staying involved in extracurriculars and with people in your school community can also reignite one’s motivation and interest in school, and talking with one’s peers can allow one to share feelings and hear advice from other students who might be feeling the same way. Reminding yourself of why education is important and how it can help you achieve your goals in the future may also give you the power and energy to push through.
According to the Sharp Health Plan, “If you avoid addressing burnout, you might feel fine at first, but you may feel worse in the long term. Practicing self-care consistently helps to protect against stress and burnout.”
Taking care of yourself also plays a big role in maintaining and establishing one’s motivation. You can help yourself preserve motivation by sustaining a peaceful but focused environment, setting boundaries and working towards a healthy body (e.g. exercising and eating well). Even things like taking a mental health day or vacation day may help, as that would allow time to reassess your well-being and academic performance as well as time to indulge in a hobby.
The end of one’s senior year is an important time and marks a transition from adolescence to adulthood. While some people wish for a calm ending, it is important to maintain energy and motivation to finish strong and look out towards your future. By preserving discipline and self-care, you can protect the things you’ve worked hard to achieve and avoid potential consequences.
