“Everyday starts with me asking myself the same question: ‘do I want to go to school today?’ Usually the answer is no. Then I ask myself a follow up question: ‘well, if I don’t go, am I missing anything important?’”
That’s how senior Jamiyah Sullins-Burke described her daily morning mantra–not with enthusiasm and hope, but with hesitation and uncertainty. It’s not laziness that plays a role in these feelings, but a sense of burnout from showing up, pushing and striving years before. For many seniors, that internal conversation with themselves becomes louder and harder to ignore.
Senioritis can be described as a drop in motivation often experienced by high school seniors as they approach graduation. It can be seen to affect productivity, focus and drive.
Students come face to face with senioritis: not just procrastination and tiredness, but a deeper, more emotional fatigue that settles in long before the first bell rings.
Senioritis is often pictured as laziness or a joke. However, the seniors I spoke with describe it as something much heavier— a mental battle with oneself that builds over months until even walking through the school doors feels like the ultimate test of strength.
“During school, I feel more distracted than I used to be,” senior Kennedy Wade Walker said. “Even in classes I normally enjoy, it’s harder to focus and stay engaged. Simple tasks that used to feel manageable now take more effort because my brain is tired from years of keeping up with assignments, extracurriculars and expectations.”
For some, it’s the gravity of college applications. For others, it’s the pressure of moving on and growing up. For many, it’s the realization that they’re in an unknown space–not done with high school, but already mentally halfway across the graduation stage.
Senioritis looks different for everyone. For Sullins-Burke, Solon Lady Comets Basketball player, it creeps in during her hard classes.
“Being in a school that’s big on academic success puts the pressure on me and many other students to take harder classes, perform well in those hard classes and constantly stay on top of things,” Sullins-Burke said. “All of that can be draining, so by senior year, the burnout hits a little harder.”
With Solon High School’s everlasting goal and pressure to succeed academically, seniors can find it hard to balance sports, homework and a social life.
“[Senior year has] been more overwhelming than I expected, with harder classes, sports and trying to stay motivated,” Sullins-Burke said. “It’s not bad, it’s just more tiring and overwhelming than I thought it would be.”
For Walker, a Solon Cheerleader, senioritis shows up in her morning routine.
“Some mornings, I wake up feeling exhausted even after a full night’s sleep,” she said. “I hit snooze multiple times [on my alarm clock], just throw on outfits to get to school, [come] to school late or leaving early, and sometimes I find myself procrastinating before even starting my day.”
Not only has senioritis affected her perspective before school, it’s also changed her motivation and self esteem leaving school as well.
“At the end of the day, it can feel exhausting just to keep up with everything,” Walker said. “And sometimes I leave school feeling like I didn’t give my best, even though I know I’m capable of it.”
It’s not only seniors that this illness infects, but also the teachers that teach senior students.
Anatomy and AP Biology teacher Kirsten Ahrens has faced a challenge when teaching seniors.
“It can be hard to motivate students and get them excited about lessons that we [teachers] are excited about,” Ahrens said.
Even with the struggle senioritis brings, teachers like Ahrens continue to show up for their seniors—often long before those seniors believe they can show up for themselves.
“I understand the reason behind [senioritis],” Ahrens said. “I remember being in your spot. Don’t completely ruin your reputation by doing nothing at the end. Show your true character–even if you are slacking a little bit more.”
