We’ve all heard the term before: “Oh, she’s a second-semester senior – she must have senioritis.” But what even is this fictitious virus? What does it entail? And should it be considered an actual ailment that garners sympathy and understanding from those around infected individuals? I’ll be the first to admit that before this year, I didn’t think senioritis was real. As a freshman, I prided myself on my work ethic and always put my academics first. I continued this tradition of hard work into my junior year– eternally motivated by the prospect of applying to college the next year and wanting to have the best statistics possible to increase my chances of being accepted into a “prestigious” institution. Now, however, I am sick– and no, I don’t have the flu. Leading up to Winter Break 2024, I started contracting the first few symptoms of dreaded senioritis. These symptoms included but were not limited to: waiting to study for a big test until the night before, falling behind on my reading for numerous classes, and no longer putting the same amount of effort into my assignments. Not to mention, after submitting most of my college applications life seemed to halt for me. All of the work I’d put into school for the past three years amounted to nothing more than a short, 250-character description on my Common App. I was exhausted and burnt out, and my dwindling motivation was fueled solely by the promise of winter break. When the First Semester ended, I breathed a sigh of relief, closed my laptop, packed my bag, and was grateful never to have to think about integrals, Hamlet, or chromosomes ever again. But what I failed to recognize was the impending doom of the dreaded 2nd Semester and all of the work that was to come.
As I write this, I have been fully engulfed by my ailment. I’ve fallen behind on a few of my classes and was unsuccessful on my last math test, yet still find little to no motivation to keep moving forward. I’ve gotten a few decisions back from colleges, some good and some bad, yet still, I have a hard time believing they’re real. A symptom of senioritis I find people don’t mention enough is the feeling of being lost. For such a long time, my academics were all that I thought about and my greatest source of validation. Now that I find my grip slipping on this part of my identity, I’m not sure what to do. Occasionally, I’ll get spurts of motivation in which I can sit at my desk and do homework for hours at a time, reminding myself of the person I once was, but they never last long. Furthermore, it’s impossible for me to think of the future. I’m in this stage of waiting: waiting to hear back from colleges, waiting for the next big test, and of course, waiting desperately for Spring Break. Having senioritis doesn’t make me sad, if anything I’m just confused. Ultimately, like any illness, I know that my senioritis will fade with time. The Second Semester is jam-packed with exciting traditions and events to look forward to and the only thing I want more than anything else is to make the most of it. I’ve come to the realization that while it’s important for me to worry about my grades and always put my best foot forward, the most important thing for me to do in these next few months is to foster the connections that make me happy. This time next year I won’t be in high school anymore, yet I cannot bear to lose the connections I’ve made. That is why I want to spend every day with my people, having fun, supporting them, and cherishing our time together before we go our separate ways.
To the classes below me who are slowly creeping towards their senior year, be warned: senioritis is a real thing– but don’t let it scare you. It’s natural to feel unmotivated and tired of high school, but don’t let those things distract you from the memories you’ll soon be cherishing years down the road. It will all be okay.
