Dear Ali,

I just want to be out of high school. I don’t know how to get out of this funk, because I really haven’t been doing much of anything. My senioritis is getting out of hand now that I’ve submitted all my college applications, but I’ve also even stopped hanging out with my friends to make the distance easier when we leave for college. I feel bad for descending into this indifference, but I don’t know what to do, because I just want to get to college.

Sincerely,

Apathetic & Lost

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Dear Apathetic & Lost,

The prospect of going to college is definitely exciting, so it makes sense that you would be waiting for it to come, and feeling like you are “done” with high school. It’s not super unusual to generally stop participating in school or extra-curricular activities. However, it also seems that you may be experiencing what English teacher Jonathon Bos would call a “paralysis of opportunity.” In other words, senior year brings so much freedom that students often end up doing nothing because they do not know what is right, or best, to do. Unfortunately, this can lead to laziness and lack of motivation.

I would suggest finding out what you would really like to do but never had time for earlier in your high school career. For example, I tried to take a kickboxing class sophomore year, but I rarely had time to get to the gym. Throughout the years, I’ve wanted to take swing dancing, do hot yoga and learn to play an instrument, but my dedication to schoolwork and other academic extra-curriculars prevented me from doing so. Now that tennis season and college applications are over, I plan on rejoining the kickboxing class and becoming more active. These are just some examples, but you should find an activity that you finally have time to pursue, and pursuing it will make you more motivated.

In terms of your friend situation, I don’t think pushing your friends away is the best decision. Yes, it will be difficult to say goodbye when it’s time to graduate, but now more than ever you should appreciate your friend-group. In college, as exciting as it is, it will take time to develop the same type of solid, secure, “we-know-everything-about-each-other” friend group to eat lunch with everyday. Based on the looming “newness” of college, I would suggest that you cherish what you have for now, and then look forward to the new college community when it gets a little closer.

Also, remember when you’re battling senioritis that colleges do receive your semester grades (for whatever motivation that is worth). That being said, it is okay to relax.  You should congratulate yourself for finishing all your applications, and be content with more social activities rather than slaving over schoolwork as you might have done last year.

For the rest of your time here, I suggest that you appreciate what the WJ community has to offer before you buy your plane ticket straight outta here.

Sincerely,

Ali