Germantown Academy Seniors are finished with their first semester of senior year. As more and more students are getting into college, it is becoming harder to stay focused on their studies.
Senioritis is defined as a “decline in motivation or performance” in the last year of schooling. The term is often used in a joking matter, however, many students face “senioritis” after getting accepted into college or completing the first semester of their senior year. Senior Caitlin Boland-Szura defines senioritis as “a weird mix of nostalgia, fatigue, and wanting to make use of all the opportunities”.
As more and more students get into college, it becomes harder for seniors to stay focused on their studies. For many, senior year is understandably difficult as they are faced with pressing responsibilities and requirements regarding their future. One anonymous senior states “she does not feel as motivated to do her work since she already got into her dream school.” Staying focused in school is already tough, however these difficulties seem especially challenging during graduation year.
Yet most seniors are continuing to involve themselves in extracurriculars such as sports, musical theater, clubs, etc. Maya Altimany ‘22 adds, “Some kids in my grade were more academically rigorous last year, but in general, the senior grade and I have still continued working just as hard as we had in junior year.”
The second half of senior year can also be a time to reflect on your time in high school. One student said that they “feel like they have become a more confident person, who is willing to ask for help when they need it.” Altimany says, “I continued progressing in an upward trend academically and socially.” She adds that she has found her “closest friends in junior and senior year as well as academically performing [her] best!” Another senior says, “it’s definitely been hard, but we have been trying to finish the year off strong”. When asked if there was a change between junior and senior year, Bolans-Szura said that she “branched out more socially, academically, and had more confidence”.
Teachers can also provide an interesting perspective on senioritis. Ms. Graffam, an English teacher in the Upper School, says seniors “sometimes take it a little easy on themselves once they’ve been admitted somewhere, and definitely there can be a difference in motivation in the spring.” She continues, “They’re tired and stressed, so understandably they sometimes need a break! But it’s also hard because sometimes I see seniors that really don’t get much out of a course, or who bring the energy level down for everyone else, because they’ve decided to coast once January is over.” Mr. Freedland, an Upper School history teacher, has a lot of experience working with seniors over the years. Mr. Freedland says, “Over the years, I have personally found that seniors remain more engaged than the reputation of senior doldrums would suggest they might. I continue to have rich and rewarding discussions with my classes all the way until the end, and my students have remained thoughtful and focused in class. Do some of them…prioritize…their time outside of class a bit differently as their high school years wane? Perhaps.”
It is great to see so many seniors finding themselves during their Upper School years. Germantown Academy seniors will soon be on to their next stage of life, whether that be college or another path, it is important to stay strong until the end! Congratulations to the Class of 2022!