Senioritis

By Chuck Shaeffer

Senioritis. The mere mention of that dreaded disease sends parents to the medicine cabinet for a good dose of castor oil or to the doctor for a magic elixir to fend off the evil vapors that challenge thoughts of graduation, college, and the end of a brilliant career before it began. 

But what exactly is this mythological phenomenon? If you ask students they might say that it is a disease that affects students in grade 12 who desperately want nothing to do with school anymore. Or they realize that they have been accepted at their college choice, have the credits to graduate, and just want to get on with their lives. 

What are the symptoms? Each senior (and some Juniors!) may have a different answer. However, many will say that not doing homework, not putting as much effort into studying, and general apathetic feelings are the main by-products. Other results are laziness, sleeping in class if they can get away with it, zoning out, late or incomplete homework, and an unbearable anxiousness to be out of school. 

These symptoms develop out of frustration with fellow classmates who are annoying, gossipy, and immature or who have different interests and goals. The sameness of life forces seniors to dream of their emerging goals as they come close enough to taste. But what can be done to prevent this attitude from destroying a high school career and putting in jeopardy the goals that seniors have? 

Recognizing that goals may be challenged if left to dissolve is the most important element. Colleges may rescind the admission offer if the final grades are less than the standard upon which the offer was extended. Graduation itself may become questionable. To avoid a total collapse, try to focus on the goals and understand the consequences such as losing privileges at home. Remember why getting a good education is important, set immediate goals that are attainable, take one step at a time rather than looking at an overwhelming workload. Try to savor this time of your life instead of yearning for the life you will have very soon. 

Saying goodbye to high school and friends will come soon enough and then you will feel apprehensive about stepping off the safe ride that you have enjoyed for eighteen years. This feeling of completion and the natural need to move on to the next level of development is natural. We all want to reach for goals as soon as we can. Just make sure that you are prepared for the reality by taking care of the essentials, which make it possible to achieve those goals.