Photo by Hannah Markov

WJ seniors enjoy the performances at this year’s winter pep rally. Many students catch senioritis during their last year of high school, struggling to find motivation once they are accepted into colleges.

Senior year of high school is typically characterized by prom, graduation and beach week, but don’t be fooled — senior year isn’t all fun and games.

When students are exposed to the lure and atmosphere of a college campus or an exciting job, their mindset changes. Instead of viewing their world and future as their bubble of high school, they see a future with limitless possibilities. This contributes to the restlessness and desire to finish high school.

After the constant grind of editing and submitting college applications ends, the second phase of senior year begins. Impatience builds as people await their coveted admission decisions and their entrance into a new world. The daily routine of classes, homework and activities starts to become old, so many people lose some motivation to put effort into their work.

Senioritis means something different to each student. For senior Yasmin Aflaki, it’s not forgoing assignments, it’s just having a different mindset.

“Well, for me, it’s not that I don’t do my work or try my best in my classes, it’s just that I don’t have as much energy to do it and I don’t care that much anymore,” Aflaki said.

She also attributes her numerous responsibilities, such as the assignments she has in her classes, to the causes of her senioritis.

“It’s hard balancing college apps and my classes, and I’m just ready for the next chapter of my life,” Aflaki said.

 College applications and the impending wait for admission decisions seem to be at the center of students’ senioritis, including senior Stephanie Milijanic.

“For me senioritis didn’t really hit until I got all my applications in,” Miljanic said.

This is something many student discuss and expect to endure, but like many other things, it is not truly understood until they experience it themselves. While many talk about it, they do not often have conversations about how to prevent it or how to push through its effects.

Senior Jack Gray believes that in order to minimize the procrastination that many seniors are subject to, people need to have an organized schedule.

 “Definitely schedule your time and plan out your day,” Gray said. “I find that giving myself breaks, but also giving myself good chunks of work time really helps with getting everything done.”

US News and World Report has provided many tips on how to stop high school senioritis before it starts. First, students need to set short and long term goals and (after they are accepted into college) they should set new goals for themselves. Next, people should enroll in classes that they are interested in for their senior year, especially interesting elective courses.

Finally, establishing time for oneself to relax and reflect is necessary in order to succeed, especially for seniors who are so busy with classes, activities and college applications.

However, even with this with the desire to finish high school and enter a new chapter of their lives constantly on their minds, students can definitely still enjoy and cherish their final moments at WJ.