As students across the US get set for another school year, the class of 2020 embarks on their final year of high school. These seniors will face many challenges as they apply for colleges, prepare for AP courses, but the biggest challenge that many will face is self-inflicted: Senioritis.

Senioritis is the supposed affliction of students during their final year of high school or college, causing them to decline in motivation or performance. Many questions if senioritis natural or simply a result of laziness. These are both correct.

There are many real known causes of senioritis. The first is cult of achievement. Students get burnt out by constantly striving to achieve new goals. It’s the natural result of pushing too hard and trying to meet expectations of others who are constantly seeking more.

Another cause of senioritis is the fear of the unknown. Seniors panic at the thought of leaving their comfort zones and heading off to college, saying goodbye to friends, as a result, many pull back in school as a coping method to deal with their anxiety. The last factor is anticipation. Students get excited by approaching the “light at the end of the tunnel”, see graduation as a gateway to freedom from parents, and the new things that await them in college.

On the other hand, there are also many “excuses” bringing about senioritis. First is the finish-line mindset. The final spring semester of senior year, many have already received their college acceptance letters. They believe that their primary goal has been achieved and they no longer see the point of putting much effort into their remaining classes, mistakenly believing that the rest of the school year doesn’t matter. Another aspect is boredom. Feeling bored is often a direct result of the finish-line mentality. Many students see their classes as nothing more than hurdles they must jump over. Their classes become tedious, mind-numbing sources of frustration.

Senioritis can pose very real consequences. Many universities won’t stop caring about grades just because a student has been given an acceptance letter. Colleges can, and do, revoke admission if final-semester grades drop too much. There are occurrences of high school graduates learning that they are no longer welcome at their chosen colleges after final school transcripts are submitted. It would be like Usain Bolt losing a race because he slowed down during the last ten yards of a race! Other than getting dropped out, students may lose their merit-based financials through their lack of grades and transition in college can be very stressful.

The best way to cure or prevent senioritis is by acknowledging the problem. You shouldn’t don’t ignore feelings of laziness and lack of motivation but instead talk to someone immediately about it so they can help you understand why you are feeling that way.
Instead of talking to parents about it, talking to a close friend, a favorite teacher, or school counselor because they would listen more attentively help you gain greater self-awareness.

<Michelle Yoo/ Northwood HS 10th>