According to the Oxford Dictionary, Senioritis is defined as “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.” Seniors all around the world are affected by this. The end of the school year is commonly the most stressful time of the year for students in both high school and college. This stress comes back on seniors and ultimately makes them feel tired, leading to demotivation. This has a huge effect on performance at school, which is the path to a successful life. Without motivation, people tend to not work as hard as they ultimately could.
High school is the stepping stone to college. It is where students get a solid foundation of core subjects that are fundamental for future studies, communication skills, critical thinking skills, and many more important characteristics. A high school diploma is often the minimal requirement for many jobs and a huge tier for higher education as colleges and employers look at this diploma to gauge your potential. Senioritis hits academic performance the hardest.
Seniors start feeling the stress of applying to colleges while balancing their day to day workload. This creates a negative vibe that becomes an infection to everyone. Seniors start skipping classes, not doing homework, and skipping studying. On the activities side, some students stop being engaged in clubs, sports, or other extracurriculars, which affects team chemistry and overall school spirit. This “disease” leads to a large effect on High School Transcripts. Students often think once they get out of the slump and graduate, everything will be fine.
However, Senioritis doesn’t stop in high school for some people. Students who take the college route often experience the “disease” again as seniors in college. College opens up lots of career opportunities. Most Jobs require a college degree and earning one is often what makes a person stand out in a competitive job market. College is where students take a deeper dive on a subject that they are passionate about and will ultimately make a career out of. This is where students become adults, experience personal growth and gain independence. People tend to say that college is the best time of your life, but it’s also the most important for life skills. Similar to high school seniors, Senioritis hits academic motivation hard. Procrastination and low efforts become evident because graduation is approaching and students may have job offers lined up. This can strongly affect final grades and projects that are crucial for graduate school and any future opportunities. Additionally, college seniors may feel burnt out and less inclined to participate in campus activities or hang out with friends, bringing down the energy of the final year in college. The big difference between Senioritis in college and high school is the stress effect. The pressure of all the hard work paying off and finally finishing school forever can be overwhelming. This transition to adulthood and becoming independent is commonly what makes these seniors feel so anxious and stressed. This feeling radiates to many seniors and pushing through is the only way to assure oneself of a strong, meaningful future.
