The school year is finally coming to an end and many seniors at Bellarmine are starting to experience a phenomenon called “senioritis.” This terrible affliction is characterized as a decline in motivation and overall academic effort. Even while the urgency to succeed begins to fade, assignments, tests, and projects still remain.
Senioritis is typically caused by a combination of mental burnout and college acceptances. After four years of academic pressure, extracurricular activities, and college preparation, many Bellarmine seniors have hit a point of mental exhaustion. Senior Elle Wachter echoes this “I work like a ‘dawg,’ day and night and I’m into college anyway.” At the same time, college decisions or other post-graduation plans can create a sense of security that causes students to lose focus on their current responsibilities.
This shift can also have noticeable effects in the classroom. Students may begin to turn in assignments late, stop trying to raise their grades, or put in less overall effort as a “who cares” effort is adopted. These final months still matter though, as grades can impact transcripts, scholarship eligibility, and even college admissions.
Senioritis does not affect everyone in the same way. As senior Emma Sheline puts it, “It hasn’t affected me to the point of failing all my classes. I’ve felt a drastic decrease in motivation.” Some seniors remain motivated by personal goals, academic pride, or the desire to finish strong, while others may find that taking it day-by-day and staying involved in activities helps keep focus focused despite the temptation to check out.
Ultimately, senioritis is a “cannon event” for many Bellarmine seniors, but students shouldn’t let it define how to spend the rest of the year. As graduation approaches and seniors tackle their last two months, they are challenged over the next two months to balance the excitement of what comes after high school with the responsibility of finishing their academic careers on a strong note.
