Explaining the Senior Slide

Every year the lovely warm weather of spring seeps into school classrooms and sparks a change. It hits a point around the middle of third quarter when students start counting down the school days, looking forward to any days off of school, and maybe even putting more effort into their social lives than school work. Although this happens to a vast majority of high schoolers, I have to say the decreasing motivation and lack of concentration is the worst in seniors. Throughout my previous high school years I did experience some times of lacking motivation and maybe doing more homework in school the day it’s due rather than at home, but none of that tops the feeling of being a senior.  

In one’s last year of high school, counting down the days of school does not just signify the coming of summer and all its joys, but ending of a chapter in one’s life and beginning of something completely new. Seniors are excited, yet apprehensive, for future plans following high school. We are no longer mandated to follow the same path as everyone else, but let go to make our own lives what we want them to be. As the school days go by we get a feeling of anticipation for this freedom and are just ready for high school to be over. With that, our motivation for school switches to a motivation for all things senior-related. We simply just want graduation day to arrive, and don’t want to do any more work. Don’t think this just applies to the lower achievers of the grade though; I have even witnessed this “senior slide” or “senioritis” in my peers that rank at the top of my class. This is a weird feeling for them and they don’t understand where this side of them is coming from since they haven’t had these feelings of non motivation before. Just because one is dedicated to school or career-minded does not mean they are safe from the effects of being a senior.  

This switch in motivation can result from another aspect of senior year: stress. With our high school days ending and college approaching much is needed to get done. Everything from college applications to scholarships to registration has to be completed. This is all piled up on top of maintaining good grades, and for most, working to save up for all the various college expenses. The work just seems to stack up and when one feels caught up, more work is added. By the time a good chunk of senior year has passed, seniors are tired of doing so much work and are ready for a break. This is another place where the nonchalant and carefree attitude comes from that drives the senior slide.

Almost everyone is bound to experience some form of senioritis. What separates one senior from another is who is more willing to push through and not let this get the best of them. Spring time is when we test our ability to persevere through and stay focused. Just walk through the halls and classrooms of any school, and one can see the distracted students awaiting the end of the year.

Editor's note: As part of a partnership with Whitnall High School, Greenfield Patch will be posting blogs and announcements written by WHS students through the end of the school year. All blogs and announcements have been approved by the student's teacher.