Senior year, the final countdown, the last year of high school. Senior year is the year that students may feel the pressure of their future, while trying to balance the responsibilities of their present. Balancing school courses, sports, jobs, clubs, applications and other commitments can be overwhelming for a student. This is where the term “Senioritis” comes from.
Senioritis: a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.
“I think senioritis is real and yes, I do have it,” senior Mrunank Patil said. “I think I’ve had it since junior year, 2nd semester. I used to be on top of my studies and then all of a sudden, I realized I’ve been here for three years doing the same thing.”
According to Southern New Hampshire University, “the term senioritis is a common affliction describing the lack of motivation felt by students who are reaching the end of their courses.”
Many people who are unaware of this term could potentially view senioritis as a joke or unreal, but in reality, it is a real thing. Some students feel like they are overwhelmed, alone, tired, unmotivated and more.
“It gets boring really fast,” Mrunank Patil continued. “ I think senioritis is a big problem in today’s society because it doesn’t prepare you for the real world. You’re forced to study now, then in college, then after college come a lot of responsibilities and tasks that have to get done and come with severe consequences if left not done.”
Senior year may be the time that students should be enjoying some of their last time partaking in high school experiences before venturing out into the world of possibly more responsibilities. Instead, seniors can lose motivation for school, especially in the second semester of their senior year. Once students choose a college, university or a plan after high school, some students can view their second semester as the time to “relax” or lose motivation because they already know the plans for their near future.
Whether one knows the plans for their future or they may have a classic case of senioritis, senior year is one of the most important years of high school. Having the future planned out can be pushed onto students, but in reality, students have a whole life ahead of them to figure out their passion, destiny, purpose, career, job and much more. Life can be a constant lesson. Not knowing the next steps is understandable, as long as individuals keep moving.
To the Class of 2026, make these next few weeks count. Go outside one last time with friends. Watch the graduation episodes of childhood television shows and reminisce of the old times. Make a photo album or vlog senior year. There are many things one can do to make these last few weeks memorable and I dare seniors go out and do it all. Most of all, do not forget, this is the final countdown.
