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It’s midnight. You toss and turn, insomnia overcoming you like a plague. After all, it’s the very last day of school. The high school graduation ceremony is tomorrow. College can’t be around the corner, right? This is a startling reality for seniors across the nation. Sooner than future college freshmen expect, they’re at prom. Taking their final AP exam. Purchasing a school lunch for the last time. From the perspective of a rising junior, here’s a closer look at seniors’ struggles and their underlying causes.
What Seniors Have in Common
There is one significant trait that most seniors share. They all have a desire for novelty yet dread entering adulthood. This is likely caused by their “inner freshmen” realizing how fast four years flew by. All students stem from their previous selves. For instance, before becoming a high schooler, one usually receives education from elementary/middle school campuses. You likely have awards and photos from these old times. From a sophomore’s stance, there is likely a pattern forming.
University professors will replace teachers. Friendships will become long-distance. Yearbook signatures will be the last messages teens receive from classmates. Yes, students, our times will be flooded with new visions. Accepting change intimidates seniors. As Nicole Sobon stated, “Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but learning to start over.” That’s what they all must do.
Communication Between College Freshmen
Although universities offer applicants opportunities to connect with enrolled individuals, many seniors cannot grasp “college life”. It is a lifestyle that is adopted through experience and continuous exposure to adult-level education. Unfortunately, this gap leads many seniors to fear the start of college. Isn’t leaving home scary?
From conversations with seniors, this aspect of starting college overpowers another. There is a greater chance for a senior to say “I’m going to miss my parents” than “I can fly home to see them”. While college is a big step, elements of secondary school remain.
You have a community back home to support you. Your instincts haven't drastically changed overall. Don’t forget that! To prevent senioritis, students should identify what they continue to have besides various changes.
The Overlooked: What Do Seniors Truly Leave Behind?
All high schoolers know they will eventually depart from loving pets, parents, and more. However, seniors sacrifice more than beyond the surface level. What pierces through their hearts, despite previously acknowledging college is forthcoming? Connections and human nature. When students make transitions, especially out-of-state departures, more than their surroundings are altered. The living conditions which shaped their temperaments are subconsciously “gone”. Seniors often lose friends only a grade lower. When a senior leaves high school, even desks become subtle in sentiment!
It is crucial to adopt a psychological perspective (and a compassionate heart) when examining senioritis. Until the freshness of adult life is fully absorbed, seniors will grapple with development.
An Effective Method to Handle Senioritis
Leaving your local community is challenging. Our minds guide us to consider only the past. From a new angle, what do you look forward to leaving behind? Perhaps going to college has gifted you with the ability to drop burdening commitments. The pressure to finish chores is lifted off your shoulders. Pressure to gain college admission has washed away. New struggles in your path will preoccupy you. So, take a moment of gratitude for the honor of earning a high school diploma. Acknowledge the positive. Even if it is difficult to admit, all people are in need of change. Not just seniors! That being said, you are never alone in your educational journey. There are many tutors and instructors available to advise you. Accept help when you need it!
Senioritis Prevention for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors
If you are planning on attending college, do not delay in preparations. Have an open discussion with your guardians about financial concerns so that you can apply for scholarships in a timely fashion. Start writing essay prompts early. This way, rising issues can be resolved, which can reduce the senioritis you can experience.It is especially beneficial to take a walk around your high school grounds. Allow your subconscious to soak in this environment. Identify parts of the campus that you dislike and favor. Then, search for universities that encompass these enjoyable aspects!
Through mindfulness and preparation, students can look forward to college without dreading the admissions process. Stay alert, expecting, and open-minded.
How Does the Sophomore Slump Differ From Senioritis?
Known as the “sophomore slump”, the burnout of sophomore year comes with knowing that graduation is distant. For seniors, its close timing leads to even more exhaustion. Many want to finish high school yet miss their old schedules. These conflicting emotions lead to sleep deprivation, anxiety, and academic decline.
For sophomores, the slump arguably comes with fewer heartstrings attached to it. The relief of summer is cherished with an understanding they can return. Many seniors may step into the vast newness of life. Others, such as second-year high schoolers, will not.
Maintaining Stability in Changing Times
Balance. The term is frequently tossed around without being orchestrated in daily life. The toll of senioritis certainly doesn’t help! As a sophomore, taking notice of emotions and surroundings goes hand-in-hand. While students cannot simultaneously control every circumstance in their academic pursuits, they certainly can develop resilience.
Take part in activities that encourage healthy mental stimulation. Try doing what you wouldn’t normally bother with. For example, inviting a friend to a picnic is a start! Take small steps to draw closer to nature and your interests. Seniors can soothe burnout through this method. For more advice, consider reading the article Struggling With May? How to Soothe Academic Burnout.
Sophomores may not suffer through senioritis but can offer a helpful lens from younger perspectives. Drawing from previous conclusions, the mindsets that seniors embrace can affect the severity of senioritis. While fear of college cannot be guaranteed as preventable, it offers an opportunity to gain self-awareness. All trials, including the college enrollment process, encourage others to uncover their strength to overcome them.
