Senioritis.

A word schools have heard since freshman year. The idea of senioritis started in 1907 and has kept going from there. The definition according to Merriam-Webster “is an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades” which is what most if not all seniors face in their last year of high school. Recently students have been using the term before they are seniors. Urban Dictionary’s top definition of senioritis is “a crippling disease that strikes high school seniors.” Symptoms include: laziness and an excessive wearing of track pants, old athletic shirts, sweatpants, athletic shorts, and sweatshirts. It also features a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude. The only known cure is a phenomenon known as Graduation.

With senioritis, students, usually those in the latter half of their senior year of high school, have trouble motivating themselves to handle academic-related tasks. This can include completing assignments, studying for tests, or even attending classes. Many of us as juniors and even sophomores complain that we have senioritis. 

In some cases, it’s spurred by the fact that the end of their high school experience is drawing to a close, decreasing the sense of urgency related to maintaining a high-caliber academic performance. This is especially true for students who have already been accepted to a top-choice school and have done enough to qualify for graduation. Mr. Suwannakorn, a social studies teacher at Chatfield Senior High School, when talking to his econ class told them that “while you [seniors] want to graduate now make the best of it. January is slow along with February but as soon as March hits it’s done in a flash.” Swanny has been teaching at Chatfield for over 10 years and has seen senioritis at its best or worse. 

While not every senior suffers from senioritis in its most extreme form, many do look forward to their final days as students. The prospect of not seeing their friends on a regular basis can make some people depressed or nostalgic. Others see the final days of their senior year as an opportunity to settle accounts before moving away from home for college or a career. As students prepare to close one chapter in their lives and begin a new one without the familiar surroundings of a school building to guide them, senioritis can bring up unexpected emotions. Overall, students only have four years in high school. Make the best of it and enjoy every moment to it’s fullest.