In a student’s four years at WCHS, it is inevitable that they hear the renowned term: “senioritis.” In 1907, the term was coined in the Chicago Alumni Magazine, referring to the gradual decline of high-school seniors’ motivation in school. As seniors at WCHS embark on their classic rites of passage, including prom and graduation, a question lurks among the student body: How real is senioritis?
“I would define senioritis as losing motivation in your senior year to finish out school strong,” WCHS senior Eden Baer said. “I think senioritis is real, because after four years of high school, you are burnt out. Once you’re into college, you think it doesn’t really matter.”
While many underclassmen jump to conclude that senioritis is an excuse to stop working hard in school, many seniors feel that their loss of motivation is well-earned after finishing the tedious process of college applications. On top of that, some seniors commit to college as early as October, causing them to lose motivation early on in the school year.
“After football season, my motivation went all the way downhill,” Baer said. “I hate the winter and it made it so much worse that I had to keep going to school every day, even though I was done with college applications.”
Senioritis tends to make seniors feel more amenable to activities they would not have participated in previously, even if it is not the wisest choice to do so. Skipping class is a major “side effect” of senioritis, as coming to school can feel pointless. Additionally, many seniors load their schedules with “filler classes,” or classes that can take up space in their schedules while providing them with an “easy A.”
“I feel more open to skipping class,” Baer said. “Though it’s not the right thing to do, I feel like I have no reason to be at school. Last Friday, I skipped the first two periods because I wanted to sleep in. I wouldn’t have done that last year when I wasn’t already committed to college. I turn in my work mostly on time even though I don’t go to school as often.”
While senioritis affects students in a plethora of ways, students are not the only ones affected. Teachers deal with the lack of motivation from the senior class daily. They have noticed seniors’ excitement for their next steps, whether it be college, a gap year or a job. Many other seniors are seen to be distracted from the present and focused on the next chapter of their lives beyond WCHS.
“I wouldn’t say [seniors] are not engaged,” WCHS leadership class teacher Olivia Henry said. “I think the idea of things in the future can be so enticing, they forget that the things that are happening right now are still important. I wish they would be more mindful and more present even as they get excited about the future.”
