How To Deal With Senioritis?

September 14, 2022
By AdmissionSight

How To Deal With Senioritis?

What Does Senioritis Mean?

When a student’s senior year is well underway, excitement is usually present. Some students, however, find this period difficult and end up with senioritis as a result. Their drive may begin to wane quickly, which could result in poorer marks, skipping classes, mood swings, and other problematic problems.

What does senioritis mean? Merriam-Webster defines senioritis as ” an ebbing of motivation and effort by school seniors as evidenced by tardiness, absences, and lower grades” in its official definition.

It is a variation that affects high school seniors only, but it is quite similar to general academic burnout when students suffer from the stress of managing school-related tasks or other academic career demands.

Students sitting on the stairs while talking.

Senioritis affects individuals who, typically in the second part of their senior year of high school, struggle to find the motivation to do academically relevant chores. This could entail finishing tasks, preparing for exams, or merely showing up to class. As we go on, we will discuss further how to deal with senioritis.

What Causes Senioritis?

If you wonder “What causes senioritis?”, every senior has a unique tale about what led to their lack of drive. Here are a few factors that contribute to senioritis:

Accomplishment

If you’re wondering how having an achievement-oriented culture and ambition can have drawbacks, think about how having too much of one thing can make you go in the wrong direction. When you’ve been trying to accomplish so much in a short period of time, you could feel worn out or burned out. Acceptance into the college of their choosing may have seemed like a lifelong dream for high school pupils who had expended all of their energy on it.

Female student holding her books in the school campus.

If you fall into this category and you start to experience senioritis, keep in mind why you started and stay on course. Recognize that this is the final push toward the goal and that continuing to press forward while maintaining your composure is just as crucial as starting.

Goal-Oriented Thinking

Students and parents all too frequently view education as a tool for achieving a certain objective. When you receive an acceptance letter for a college, you could feel as though you have achieved your goal. But the purpose of education isn’t to be taken seriously in and of itself. It’s an ongoing adventure that can be profitable at every stage.

Boredom

When learning preferences are ignored, traditional educational techniques can become monotonous. The vibrancy of the subject matter depends on both the teacher and the learner. If you’re a student who finds a class boring, attempt to come up with inventive ways to make it interesting. Make learning games or compete with a friend to see who can ace the upcoming test with a higher score.

Ignorance/Fear

Since one is facing the unknown after high school, life can appear frightening. Therefore, if you feel like you are in denial about the fact that your high school education is coming to an end, you might want to give up to feel like you have some influence over when it ends.

Expectation

A thin line separates expectation from denial, even though anticipation appears to be the reverse of denial. Both concentrate on emotions related to the unknowable future. Students may be filled with hope that college will lead to more independence (which is true, especially if you choose to enroll in an online university). As a result, you can start to lose focus on the duties at hand for wrapping up the year as you eagerly anticipate graduating.

Avoid falling victim to this temptation!

Practicality

Students can use the excuse of “senioritis” as a simple way to explain why they are leaving the game early. The fact is that you are in charge of your effort, and if you do claim to have senioritis and experience unpleasant consequences, no one else can assist you in finding redemption. Reminding yourself of what your education means to you and how maintaining your focus now will benefit you, in the long run, is vital for this reason.

Three students talking near a parl.

One way how to deal with senioritis is to give it your all while keeping in mind that you’ll have a summer break before returning to school or beginning a profession.

How Do I Know If I Have Senioritis?

Senioritis can manifest in a variety of ways. However, significant changes in your pupils’ behavior or attitude are almost always connected. For instance, they can start skipping lessons, struggle to concentrate, or feel overly exhausted. Falling academic performance as well as a withdrawal from once-enjoyed extracurriculars can be warning signs. Now, how do I know if I have senioritis?

In general, some of the signs of senioritis include:

  • Falling grades
  • Declining attendance at school
  • Discontinuing extracurricular activities
  • Skipping work or volunteer hours
  • Withdrawing from friends or family
  • Changes in personality
  • Changes in emotional well-being
  • Exhaustion
  • Sleepiness

Some senioritis symptoms might be confused with those of other mental health issues. This can make it difficult for those who are not medical specialists to distinguish between short-term senioritis and diseases that would call for medical attention.

Even if senioritis has progressed to a serious infection level, there are still numerously feasible (and efficient) therapies available, although it is communicable.

What Are the Consequences of Senioritis?

Students often have senioritis during the second semester of their senior year for a variety of reasons. Some students experience burnout as a result of their prior years’ intense pressure to produce strong college admissions applications. When acceptance letters start to arrive, the student can start to lax up. Other students neglect their studies because they are so engrossed in the excitement and activities of their senior year, such as prom or graduation planning.

Whatever the cause, senioritis should be addressed as soon as they are noticed by parents and students. Immediately look for strategies for how to deal with senioritis. Some may ask “What are the consequences of senioritis?” It could be detrimental to a student’s future. Some of the detrimental consequences could be:

  • Cancellation of college admission offers
  • Academic probation for the student
  • Modifications to financial aid offers

Students frequently believe that their colleges won’t learn about their behavior changes. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Colleges will notice the changes after you graduate if school counselors do not immediately alert them. Your final transcript, which is provided on your behalf to the college, will reflect any decline in grades.

The colleges also request that counselors disclose any disciplinary changes. College can learn about the modifications and decide to make a different choice. Students may experience great disappointment if universities change their minds about their admissions policies or financial aid offers during the summer, and depending on how late the change occurs, it may severely restrict their possibilities.

Senioritis should be treated as soon as symptoms are identified by parents or pupils. Knowing what is causing the senioritis is important so that changes can be made as needed. So, how to deal with senioritis?

It is advised that students contact their teachers or counselor to discuss their concerns and address them if their records are already affected. Learn more about senioritis. This will entail figuring out whether the modification is significant enough to warrant informing the admissions committee at the college or colleges the student is thinking about enrolling in.

How Do You Survive High School Senior Year?

So you’ve accepted your diagnosis at last. Congratulations, by addressing your issue, you’ve taken a step toward battling it.

Let’s move on to how do you survive high school senior year. It’s important to keep in mind that in this situation, you must conquer your own thoughts. Sometimes it’s challenging to comprehend how the mind functions. One day you have everything under control, the next it takes all of your will to muster the vigor to even get out of bed and begin the day. Students aren’t the only ones who have lost motivation due to the unprecedented events that have occurred in the world in recent years.

Many people are battling a plethora of issues and finding it difficult to continue. It could be due to poor physical or mental health, an abundance of work, or a lack of a job. Knowing you’re not the only one struggling with these issues is comforting. We are all guilty of placing ourselves under stress in our quest for excellence and productivity. It’s so much so that the thought of what’s coming next fills one with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Students taking an exam in a desk.

It’s crucial to remember that productivity alone does not determine how valuable we are, so even if we push ourselves to the bone, it won’t matter if we are not truly caring for other aspects of our lives. While being a student does need you to devote the majority of your time and energy to your studies, realizing that education isn’t your only priority will assist reduce the stress it can create.

You should, if anything, approach this situation and moment in your life with as much zeal and excitement as you possibly can. Ensure that you are still taking care of your needs outside of school.

You can surely anticipate that as you get older, life becomes more difficult and that bigger challenges are ahead. This is the reason it’s crucial to develop healthy behaviors as early as possible. Maintaining motivation requires a strong work ethic, finding a balance between school and daily life, and managing stress.

Here are some tried-and-true techniques and answers on how to deal with senioritis and make sure you finish the school year strong and prepared to enroll in college or begin your profession.

Recognize the Issue

Finding the problem and characterizing it are the initial steps in any solution-finding process. Yes, senioritis has struck you, but don’t allow that to demoralize you any further than it already has. Recognize the need for change and move forward with the appropriate resources.

There are many symptoms, many of which may not apply to you. Determine which ones do and proceed from there. Finding the symptoms you experience will make it simpler to locate the remedies, whether it’s having trouble waking up in the mornings in time for class or losing interest in your appearance or grades.

Be Organized

Clutter and disarray have an impact on the brain, regardless of where they are: in the home, study space, notes, schedule, or mind. “The visual distraction of clutter increases cognitive overload and can reduce our working memory,” according to The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The brain processes information more effectively in a clean, orderly environment, improving focus and productivity, according to a neuroscientific study. Clutter removal is a straightforward activity, and after you complete it, you will have made progress toward solving your difficulties.

Take A Break

As was already established, it’s just as important to take care of oneself as it is to work hard. Even fitness enthusiasts and bodybuilders will contest the notion that building muscles occurs when you are working out; rather, the ability to rebuild occurs when your body is at rest. You may think that adding additional rest to the list of treatments for senioritis would be contradictory, but the key is what you do when you have free time.

Think of creative strategies to get oneself out of a rut during this time. Create a plan to get to graduation not just passing, but graduating with flying colors instead of wasting time on your phone or binge-watching movies.

Utilize Your Senior Year to the Fullest

It’s best to keep all you know and love even closer to your heart right now rather than wallow in sadness over a chapter that is about to come to an end. Your life is about to enter a completely new phase, so take this opportunity to fully recognize how far you’ve gone and create incredible experiences you’ll cherish in the future.

Life is short; live it to the fullest.

You don’t want to look back on your life and regret not learning everything you could and being in class with the rest of your pals, but instead lazing around in bed. There are a lot of people that want the chance to pursue their education. Every time you have a bad feeling about going to school, remember to count this time as a blessing and act in appreciation.

Discover the Joy of Learning

Learning new things and developing personally brings me so much excitement. There are countless options for how to accomplish this. Information is absorbed differently by each person.

One effective way how to deal with senioritis is to find your own special approach to make learning enjoyable if you are the type of student who struggles to concentrate in class or is often distracted.

Female students using a laptop in a desk.

Try a variety of techniques, such as studying with a small group of friends, using the Pomodoro Technique, listening to music as you study, and much more. Perhaps you’re the type of person who works better after a little bite. You can find some of your favorite meals there to integrate into your study sessions if you read our earlier essay on Brain Food for Studying.

Stick with what you find to be effective for you. When other people’s strategies fail to help you, try not to be too hard on yourself. Because we are all wired differently, celebrate your individuality!

Encourage Yourself

You must finally take control of your own life; your teachers and friends can only help you in that regard. Make the decision that you want to succeed. Choose to be motivated. Remind yourself daily that you are capable, talented, and prepared.

It all begins with sending the concept out into the universe, and manifestations occur.

Cogito ergo sum. I am because I think I am.

Watch your life change as you practice using affirmations to fortify your mind. Control your thoughts, not the other way around.

Stay Composed And Carry On

Change takes time to manifest. Don’t give up just yet if you try the solutions above and are still unable to adopt the proper attitude.

Anytime you encounter issues in your daily life, you can use any of these activities. Recognize what needs to be done, go back to step one, remain composed, and then go on. Pauses are OK. Everybody occasionally feels fatigued and lacks motivation.

The crucial factor is how you stand back up after falling. It’s not a roadblock; it’s an obstruction. You can always continue and persist.

Many seniors look forward to their final days as students, even if not every senior experiences senioritis in its most severe form. Some people may feel down or nostalgic when they realize they won’t be seeing their friends regularly. Others view their final weeks of high school as a chance to settle things before leaving for college or the start of a new job.

Senioritis can elicit unexpected feelings as kids get ready to end one chapter of their lives and start a new one without the support of a school facility. There are several ways how to deal with senioritis. Since students only have four years total to complete high school, make the most of the situation and savor each minute to the fullest.

AdmissionSight can help you how to deal with senioritis and work on your college application effectively. AdmissionSight has more than 10 years of assisting students through tough college admissions. Book an initial consultation with us to learn more.

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