Every high school student has heard of the term senioritis. It is the phenomenon where seniors begin to slack off, lose motivation, and care less about school. Many of the seniors at Danbury High School have begun to feel senioritis, it typically comes from a mix of exhaustion and a lack of motivation. Seniors often find themselves falling behind on homework and waking up late, finding themselves late to first block as after committing to a college, they no longer feel the need to stress. They just need to do enough to pass. 

DHS senior Jennifer Baran-Persaud had a lot to say about this as “being a lead in the school play and the workload” from school has led her to feel more exhausted. This exhaustion then leads to increasing tiredness and lack of attention in the classroom. Some researchers, however, argue that senioritis is just academic burnout in disguise. After three years of heavy coursework, extracurricular activities, and testing, it is normal for students to feel overwhelmed and drained. Ashley Sarceno, another DHS senior, says that having multiple “tests so close together” creates more stress and often leads her to not have enough time to study. This is especially apparent since she believes the work given to her at the end of the year is just “a waste of time and 90% of the time, [she] finds an excuse not to do it” since she had already committed to college.

Even though senioritis might seem harmless, it can have many consequences. The chance that a college acceptance gets revoked if they see a drastic change in grades is just one example. Past students have said they regret slacking off towards the end of their high school career and should have used the time as an opportunity to prepare for college or their future careers. While on the other hand, some seniors feel it is a well deserved break as they have worked their hardest the last three years. 

While senioritis may feel like a rite of passage, all students need to find a balance between enjoying their last few months of high school and keeping up with their academic work, as the choices the students make now can impact their future. Whether students see senioritis as a well-earned break or a risky slump, one thing is for sure: graduation is just around the corner and seniors are almost there.