As seniors, we are almost at home plate. But instead of a full on sprint, we’re jogging at a slow pace. We don’t think that the catcher has a chance of getting us out, so we are taking our sweet time.
Senioritis has taken over. Many of us know where we are going to school or are making our final decisions, and we think that we are now safe. But we’re not. Colleges still have a chance to rescind their acceptance offer when they see mid-year and end-of-the-year grades. The catcher still has a chance to get us out.
The definition of senioritis according to the New York Times Graduates blog article, “Another Kind of Spring Fever: Senioritis,” is a decrease in motivation toward schoolwork displayed by students who are nearing the end of their school careers. Symptoms of senioritis are slowness, procrastination, lethargy regarding schoolwork and a tendency to skip class.
Many seniors believe that once they are accepted to school, they do not have to worry about their grades anymore, but this is not the case. According to College Board, “Colleges reserve the right to withdraw your offer of admission should your senior year grades drop.”
Alyssa Saccente has been affected by senioritis. She is “too lazy to do her math homework” and has seen a drop in her grades since the start of the second semester. While she does not think there is a cure for senioritis, her advice is not to have too much on your plate schedule-wise.
Samantha Lacetera advises underclassmen not to take too many AP classes and be realistic when making your schedule. Jackie Saccente said that she schedules a day every week after school to get work done in the library, so that senioritis does not fully take over.
Social Studies teacher Mrs. Cardo does not lower her expectations towards the end of senior year, saying, “’I approach second semester seniors with a different mindset because they are about to step out into world. I should have higher expectations because they are now adults.”
Even so, she tries to make her senior classes more interesting, saying “The challenge is to give them work they are interested in. Senior year is an opportunity for them to take ownership of what they are learning. If they are interested they will want to do it.”
English teacher Ms. Capon, who is teaching seniors for the first time this year, has heard rumors of senioritis. She has recognized students are already getting distracted and are restless, and said she is “nervous and scared to see what will happen.”
So as we are approaching home plate, let’s make sure to finish out strong; only two more months to go!