As seniors get closer and closer to their graduation date, it is inevitable that they lose their motivation to perform in school. This lack of motivation is what most like to call “senioritis,” formally defined as “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance,” according to Oxford Languages.
Personally, as a member of 2025’s graduating class, I can confirm we feel this way. I want to write this just as about much as I want to complete tonight’s homework. The real question regarding this pandemic is both the actual frequency of senioritis and ways to combat this within the last few weeks before graduation.
To distinguish the amount of students facing this decline in motivation, I posted a poll online for students to fill out. Half of the graduating class replied to this poll, with 91% of students believing in and admitting to senioritis. This proves that senioritis is very real, and many students experience it for various reasons.
As we are only seven weeks away from our cap and gowns, many students have committed to their colleges and completed most of their required credits, leaving them with little left to work for. The hard part is over, and we can finally have a moment to relax after several rigorous years of advanced classes and late nights doing homework or studying for tests.
That said, we seniors can’t take it too easy; with Spring Lakes’ incentive for seniors regarding their absences in the third trimester, many find themselves clocking in at 7:40 each morning, whether they want to attend class or not. Spring Lake High School will exempt upcoming graduates from their exams only if they finish their courses with a B+ or higher and if they have equal to or less than four absences. These absences also include medical absences, which works as a controversial topic among students.
Now that we have identified the prevalence of this issue among this graduating class and the possible causes for this decline in motivation and performance, what can we, as seniors, do to combat this?
Remember what you have been working toward; just because you may have already committed to the college of your dreams does not mean they cannot see your final grades, and remember those are still important. Finish off strong; although graduation seems far away, we are seven weeks away. Push yourself, and let your last trimester of high school be something you can be proud of. Lastly, remember to spend time with your friends and enjoy your last few days at Spring Lake High School; you will not get this time back.
Students themselves have proven that senioritis is a real issue. However, it is not always due to laziness; it is likely due to burnout. While there are ways to fight this pandemic, the only cure for senioritis is the thing that has led up to this very moment: graduation. So hang tight, seniors! Although graduation seems far away, these last few weeks will move quickly, and we will be up on that stage before we even know it.
