It happens every year.
Juniors begin their
year wondering if they’ll catch it next...
Seniors battle it from the start of their year until the end of the year activities
such as prom
final exams
and senior hook-out day.
All signs showing that graduation is within sight.
Senioritis.
Senioritis is the horrible disease that strikes high school
seniors. Symptoms include: laziness, an
over-excessive wearing of sweats and sweatshirts, lack of studying, and a
dismissive attitude. The only known cure
is the occurrence of graduation.
As a student and then later as a teacher, I never really
took ‘senioritis’ seriously. I considered it something people talked about and
made to be a huge nightmare….An excuse for the behavior of some seniors who
could not control themselves. In reality, being a senior was just the same as
being a junior, sophomore, or freshman. Right?
Wrong! I don’t say this very often…..
I was wrong!
As a parent of a senior who is nearly done with his final
year of high school, I can tell you that senioritis truly does occur. It is a state of mind for teens: they are
so, so close to being done with high school that they can almost taste the
crappy college cafeteria food. A change starts happening once they finish
applying to colleges and receive a few acceptance letters. I’m sure a few even wonder why they even have
to finish the year. After all, they know their plan and they know what field of
study they are going to go into. Even students that are “Undecided” about their
future plans know that high school is done helping them.
I noticed gradual changes in Tyler throughout the year. All were sure signs of senioritis. He seemed
to be in a constant battle between “I don’t want to fail” and “I don’t care
enough to do anything.”
Tyler started his senior year full of excitement. He had been recruited to play baseball at La
Roche College, most of his senior portfolio was complete and well, he was a
senior. That excitement was replaced by
complacency. He went through a period in which he was kinda “blah”. He didn't dislike high school, but he was
starting to look forward to college. It was a limbo-like stage. By late winter, Tyler loathed school, his
teachers, and his classes. He was unmotivated and angry.
It wasn't until
baseball season started that I saw another change in Tyler. He would come home from practice and go on
and on about how much he enjoyed the younger players. He was amazed at how much they liked
him. It’s not that Tyler isn't likable,
but for some reason this seemed different to him. Almost as if these boys looked up to
him. That is when I think Tyler realized
he could be a leader. Overnight he went from
idolizing other high school baseball players to becoming a leader of the
team.
As I watched this transformation occur throughout the year,
I came to a conclusion about Tyler’s senioritis. Tyler realized that he was growing up. I
don’t mean that he ran around and saying things like, “Hey, I’m a big boy now!”
or “Look at me! I’m all grown up!” But his focus changed. He had a lot going on and I saw him starting
to focus on life in the real world, not the world of high school. After his last high school baseball game and
the prom, it was evident that Tyler was at the point where he doesn't fit in
with the rest of the high school anymore.
He is ready to move onto bigger and better things and I’m
sure he can’t wait to get started. But school isn't over yet, he still has to
graduate! I preach to him weekly….ummm,
okay, probably daily, that I expect him to maintain good grades and that everything
counts up until the very end. Staying
focused the last couple weeks isn't going to be easy for any student. Heck, I know teachers who are starting to
lose focus too! This impatience is
amplified even further when seniors don’t see the point in it anymore. I’m sure
Tyler is wrestling with finishing his high school career strong and being tired
of focusing on high school. That’s why this horrid disease, Senioritis, can be
tricky. While it’s a sign of growing up
and focusing on life outside of high school, it can also be an excuse to slack
off senior year. The key is finding a balance.
Tyler has been trained to run in a hamster wheel for 13
years, churning out A's and B’s while maintaining his athleticism from
Kindergarten to his senior year. I forced
him into believing that every school assignment determined his future. And when his Senior year finally hit, instead
of coasting by taking wood shop and 3 study halls, he was studying and trying
to raise his GPA just a little more. Why?
Because I told him that he should.
But will a little spring slacking hurt him? Of course it
won’t hurt him. What I discovered is
that it actually helped him. Instead of
hovering and nagging about getting assignments done and studying for tests, I
let him go. I let him determine when to
study or when to start working on projects.
This wasn't easy for me! For the
first time in years, I eased off the reins a bit. After all, this is his last year of high
school…..actually, the last couple weeks of high school (sniff…sniff). He has a scary few years ahead of him in
college, and then a lifelong career afterward.
So, what is the cure for this nasty disease? We all know there is only one remedy to this
ailment that so many seniors suffer from. On the night of Commencement, the misery will trickle out of their
ears the moment they turn their tassels. The freedom caps, also known
graduation caps, will simulate applause as they are thrown into the air with
joy, and the removal of the illness will be evident among all of the newly
graduated students.
Congratulations to the graduates of 2014!
.
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