You might be thinking: What IS the point of going to school? Does it really matter? We are all going to die anyway. If any one of those thoughts have crossed your mind or anything similar to it, you might be suffering from the traditional concept of “Senoritis”.

Sen·ior·i·tis (sēnyəˈrīdəs, n): a serious illness to which all seniors (and some juniors, in fact) are susceptible. It obliterates academic motivation…and usually class attendance as well. It also tends to tank one’s grades; however, some people can get around that.

If this sounds like you…KEEP READING! I know your Senoritis has probably given you the attention span of a goldfish (which according to Google is approximately five seconds), but push through it because reading this might just fix your affliction.

I started to really feel the burn out in junior year; unlike the years beforehand, though, summer break didn’t fix it for me. About a week into senior year, I felt burnt out again and truly began to understand the term Senioritis. It becomes so easy to just skip classes, put off homework, and ultimately lose all motivation to do anything school-related. So, I decided to ask teachers for advice and share my own tips for fighting off the burnout. 

1. You need to recognize that you’re choosing instant gratification more than long-term gratification; FIGHT AGAINST THAT URGE. If you have made it this far in the article, congrats! You probably fought off the instant gratification of leaving and deciding you don’t have a Senoritis issue…or just don’t care to try to fix it. Things like putting off homework, skipping first period to sleep in, or skipping other classes just because are all instantly gratifying. The only problem is that your attendance, grades, and education tend to take the brunt of its consequences. Test yourself. See how much willpower you truly have to get yourself out of bed, show up to your classes, and try.

2. As Mr. Maki put it, “Be as organized as possible”. Being that the second semester has just begun, now is a perfect time to get reorganized. Get rid of work you don’t need. Invest in a folder or two (or a binder if you’re feeling extra cool) Dump the trash out of your backpack. Get some more pens or pencils, and anything else to get your school stuff back in order. And while you’re at it: Clean. Your. Room. Trust me, just do it. You might be thinking what does my room have to do with senioritis? Well, I’m here to tell you it matters more than you’d think. I swear by the fact that cleaning your room is like putting your life back together. If your space is clean and organized, your head will feel less cluttered. When you go home to pull out some homework, you will have a clean space to do it, and it will help motivate you whether you realize it or not.

3. DO NOT DO YOUR HOMEWORK IN YOUR BED. I have tried, and tried, and tried again thinking I was going to get my life together and actually finish a homework assignment while in bed…and it never happens. Your brain is not trained to work in bed. It’s the same reason people get more work done at school than at home. Your brain is not trained to do school while in bed; I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re not going to change that anytime soon. With that being said, sit at a table, a desk, on the floor, in a box, or literally anywhere that’s not your bed. It will help immensely while trying to stay focused. If you’re a person who likes to listen to music while you work, consider making a playlist specifically for homework. It will also help keep you focused on the task at hand. 

4. If your senioritis is already an issue and has left you overwhelmed with catching up in your work, there are ways to help that, too. Firstly, make a clear and organized list. Make a separate section labeled with each class and the missing work from those classes. You can put the assignment points next to each task if you want, and start with what weighs on your grade the most (or just work your way down the list). Looking at the list might be overwhelming, but I promise once you start crossing things off your anxiety will ease up.

5. Another thing you can do is to just talk with your teachers. Senior teachers understand that students tend to burn out by their fourth year. If you just tell them you are trying to get back on track and ask for help, they will help you. It’s a part of their job.

Ultimately, you just need to chip away. You can start anywhere you want, because all you need to do is to start somewhere. Just remember that it does pay off; anything is better than nothing. If you made it this far, you can make it a little bit longer. 

Of course, all of this is meaningless unless you can muster up the will and motivation to start it. Mr.Maki had some great advice like getting some exercise and working with a friend. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to start any of it, get a friend who also has Senoritis and hold each other accountable, but spice it up. Make a bet to see who can show up to every class all week, or for who can get the better grade by the end of second semester. A little bit of money (and the unrivaled competitiveness between you and your closest friends) will easily improve your motivation.

Make it fun. Put money or a funny dare on the line. In fact, get more than just one person in on it and make it a group competition.

Academics might not always be fun…but making your friend dress up in a ridiculous outfit at school for a day would be. Getting some exercise in addition to your little competition could prove to be a boost for your mood, motivation, and mental health while simultaneously giving you a leg up in your war between friends. 

Lastly, Ms. Conner mentioned looking down the road. Ask yourself: will this matter in a year? Will it matter in five? Life is all about the ups and downs, but think long- term.

Not a lot of things will matter in five years, but your education will. Your knowledge will.

Everyone should try to live in the moment, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore thinking about your future. This is all seniors’ last year here at SHS; in June, you won’t be going to school with your friends, or participating in sports with your team, or seeing your favorite teachers every week.

Show up. Appreciate these moments even if you’re burnt out.

High school will be something you reminisce about – you don’t want to wish you spent more time living it up, being with your friends, or raising hell in the halls. Appreciate this last year before the real world strikes, and focus on the good. Everything works out – your senioritis doesn’t have to be permanent.