Photo courtesy of John Pickett
You’ve probably heard at one point or another the saying that “it’s not about how you start, but how you finish”. This proverb can apply to - well, just about anything, really, but I find that it particularly holds true as it relates to the school year.
Over the past four years, I have found that I personally tend to suffer from decreased motivation and a slightly worse work ethic in the second semester of the school year. It makes sense if you think about it; with a variety of minor holidays and Spring Break falling in the second semester, students typically get more time off than in the first semester. Coupled with the gradually increasing excitement for summer, this time off can really wreck a student’s motivation.
In no year of high school is this more true than for seniors; everyone knows of the scourge of “senioritis”, the tendency for seniors to lose motivation and “give up". Senioritis can develop from any number of factors, but it is a particularly strong affliction among seniors who are already admitted to their preferred college(s) and feel no need to continue working as hard as they did previously. Though senioritis might seem small and insignificant, it truly can lead to devastating consequences. Decreased motivation to complete schoolwork can result in grades and GPAs tanking. If a student who is admitted to a college lets their grades drop too far, it’s not uncommon for that college to rescind their offer of admission.
It’s clear that finishing off the second semester of high school strong is highly important. But what steps can a senior take to ensure that their last semester is as strong as previous ones?
The easy answer, truly, is to keep on keeping on. Senior Davis Johnstone gives this advice for seniors on dealing with college-related anxiety and trying to stay motivated through the second semester: “Stay confident throughout your applications. Keep your chin up, and keep working hard. Treat [the final semester] like any other time in high school. Work just as hard to close out the year as you would at any other time.”
Senior Robbie Leighton concurs, stating that “you really just shouldn’t overthink it. Stay consistent, and keep a good balance between your schoolwork and your social life.” Maintaining an active (but not overactive) social life is arguably just as important as maintaining the same focus in school, as it gives students motivation to continue working hard to close out the year.
The end of senior year is an exciting time. It gives students a chance to relive all their high school experiences from years past, as well as the opportunity for students to relish doing things for the last time in their high school career. However, it’s important to remember that school is just as important now as it has always been, and enjoying the final months of high school shouldn’t come at the expense of strong school performance. Stay focused - but don’t forget to laugh along the way.