The epidemic is everywhere. The symptoms are described as: lack of enthusiasm, extremely busy schedule, fear of paying off debt, carelessness and merely awaiting graduation. Diagnosis: senioritis.
While many prepare their resumes, build their experiences and plan their future careers after graduation, others just sit there, wait for everything to slow down and for them to finally take the time to relax.
Senioritis can also be described as absence of ambition. Once the college life is over, there are new opportunities to acquire, life lessons to learn and time to face the facts.
Things will no longer be planned as they were the last year of high school, when students knew they were looking forward to college.
“Senioritis is motivation or the lack there of. People simply give up on life,” senior David Helms said.
Even though senioritis is not a real disease, students who approach graduation become most familiar with this term that daunts them as they become exhausted and grow weary.
“People just kind of sit and wait for graduation to come. Being completely non-productive, they get over the college experience,” Helms said.
While statistics on College Board show that senioritis is more likely to attack high school students, Helms thinks otherwise.
“In high school you don’t really get senioritis, you pretty much have goals set. But in college things change because it is up to you to decide what’s next, and that’s where senioritis kicks in,” Helms said.
Indeed, the amount of pressure accumulated through high school and college builds up, creating much more stress and adding to the lack of enthusiasm to accomplish things that seniors tend to go through.
Seniors, however, can prevent senioritis from attacking them at an early stage if they prepare and plan ahead, setting goals for all four years.
“Do not give into senioritis. When you’re running a race you don’t walk or jog on your last lap. You have to be able to finish the race,” senior Aubrey Stelzner said.
Even though there are many seniors that have everything set and planned for after graduation, there are others that are undergoing much more pressure.
Aubrey Stelnzer is a perfect example of a well prepared student that seeks to attend graduate school once her years at California Baptist University are over.
She advises others to plan ahead and take classes that are not only required but that will benefit everyday life and allow you to keep track of your time while keeping you well balanced.
“Good time management is essential,” Stelzner said.
It is also important to put first things first and never forget to make time for yourself, as this may lead to overworking yourself and giving up at an early stage of the last and final year of your undergraduate years.
“Do not procrastinate or make excuses. Set goals beforehand. Exercise really motivates you to keep you pumped, so it is also important to stay active,” Helms said.
