As it nears the end of the school year for the Class of 2025 seniors, they begin to experience burnout, exhaustion, and overall mentally tapped out from academics. Throughout the school, this is commonly known as senioritis, a run on joke for generations defining the feeling towards the end of the year for the graduating class.
Many students are exposed to this idea of burnout, especially here at LSHS. Students were interviewed on their opinions of whether senioritis is a real thing and if they’re experiencing it.
“Yes. Absolutely, 100%, I got it after winter break,” senior Niomi Gavin said.
Gavin feels as though senioritis is 100% a real thing students experience, after going to school for 12 years straight, and finally reaching the end, they hit an ultimate roadblock. High school students, in particular, work so hard on their academics for their future. This constant dedication to school, while also potentially balancing a social life and/or sport, leads to students feeling tapped out.
“Yes, I feel so excited and tired of school and can’t wait to graduate,” senior DeAndre Jordan said.
Whether those define it as “senioritis” or simply just feeling exhausted, students tend to really feel this kick in at the start of the spring semester. When reality really sinks in that the class of 2025 will be graduating within the next couple of months, students here at LSHS tend to start slacking because graduation is soon enough.
“No, I’m not, I don’t wanna fail, I feel like working hard and finishing strong is very important to me, so I can graduate,” senior Lily Luangrath said.
Researchers at Anchor Therapy recorded information regarding what you need to know about senioritis states Senioritis is a decline in motivation and effort towards academic standings as graduation approaches. While it is not a medical term, it is said to be a “state of mind” teens experience and can’t seem to shake off.
Signs of senioritis include laziness, lack of interest, decrease in energy, sadness, agitation, and so on. A result of senioritis may look like grades slipping, absences, showing up late, sleeping in class, leaving early, skipping classes, and so on. These are all ways that senioritis has shown prevalence in schools.
“Lack of motivation, energy, and strength, I feel so tired of school all the time,” senior Giselle Mata-Villa said.
Senioritis is a common misconception amongst staff and teachers here at LSHS that is perceived to be simply lazy and not trying hard enough. When in reality it all comes down to the pure mental exhaustion from working hard on academic standings for years on end to prove ourselves to parents, coaches, friends, teachers, etc.
The outbreak of senioritis here at LSHS is a real thing; numerous students are actively experiencing this state of mind and tend to feel stuck. Whether they choose to label it as such or not, be aware of the mental state and its symptoms as they become prevalent.
“Try to enjoy it because it’s gonna fly by and you’re never gonna have to do it again, as much as you wanna get out, enjoy your time there with your friends and enjoy it and just finish strong,” teacher Kendra Peterson said.
As the school year winds down, it’s important to understand that, senioritis or not, we have to work our hardest to try and fight through and finish off our last year strong.
Take proper care to recognize when someone has caught a case of “the senioritis” and try to help them push to finish their work on time so they can enjoy our last few months as students.
