After four long years of high school education, it is finally coming to a close. As the end of the school year approaches, seniors can find it tough to stay focused, complete assignments, and finish the year strong.
There are so many reasons as to why graduating students have a hard time keeping focus in their last few months of school. This struggle is nicknamed “senioritis.”
If you are one of the people who are dealing with senioritis, you are not alone. With the whole graduating class of 2024 and previous years also experiencing the same, there is plenty of advice that can help you. This article contains advice from a fellow student and three simple steps to keep in mind to ensure you end the year on a great note.
No Finals
The policy for seniors is that if they can keep a 90% or higher in their classes, they are exempt from taking the final at the end of the year – unless they are taking an Advanced Placement class. Because this has proven to be a large help in keeping students on task, it has become a long-lasting rule. This can not only keep your grades up and look great for colleges, but it can also help keep your motivated for the rest of the school year. Luckily, most teachers have been generous and often give students a chance to correct one test that they have previously done poorly on as an opportunity to change their grade for the better. Let’s be honest, you don’t want to use your free time to take a final, and your teacher doesn’t want to use their free time to grade your final. It is highly recommended to take this opportunity to give yourself less work and better grades. This can be very beneficial to your high school transcript because, believe it or not, it is still being recorded and used by colleges.
You’re Not Done Yet!
Just because you got accepted into your school does not mean you’re done academically. You are still at risk of getting kicked out of college if you show a decrease in your grades. In the previous years at Loyola, a soon-to-be graduate let their grades go, ultimately leading to a letter sent home regarding the repeal of their acceptance. This can still happen to you if you are not careful and on top of your work. Use the 90% rule to your advantage to make sure your grades don’t slip. Prove to the colleges that just because you’re almost done, that doesn’t mean your work ethic is.
Enjoy Your Senior Year
The rest of the year shouldn’t just be focused on excessive work. You should be responsible with your time and have a balance of work and recreational activities. Take time to care for yourself so that you do not burn out faster. It is vital to not pour all your assignments on yourself at once, but take them little by little. As you spend your time on yourself and work, you won’t have time to focus on how many days are left in the school year. It’s best to not countdown to the end of your senior year; rather focus on each day as it comes and enjoy the moments you have before moving on in life. Your days should not be spent desiring something in the future; you should be enjoying the present instead of wishing for the future.
Senior Hailey Castelar is a perfect example of what to do to prevent senioritis. Not only is she balancing school life and social life, but on top of that is her athletic rowing career. After committing to Drake University for rowing, she continues to juggle multiple responsibilities.
“Instead of dreading this long countdown ‘til graduation and looking ahead, I’ve been trying to focus on living in the moment. I try to keep myself motivated to cherish the moments I have left with my friends and classmates.”
She believes the 90% rule has played a large role in her motivation to keep her grades up.
As May 25 gets closer, some words of motivation and advice can be needed. “How you end the year now will be the habit you will bring to college, so end the year strong!” Hailey says. “Have faith in yourself and uplift others who are going through the same!”
If you listen to the advice in this article, I guarantee that you will see success within the end of your high school career, and even going into your college career.
