Investigating Senioritis
“I know where I want to be, what I want to do with my talent, but what good is knowing any of that if I can’t even show up (on time) to said space?”
The Rundown:
Senioritis: a supposed affliction for students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.
When I first pitched this idea, I wanted this paper to be fun and ditzy, shaming those millennials who don’t believe in Senioritis – because that's what I do best, making fun of elders.
Unfortunately, I am someone that was blessed with senioritis, so that paper didn’t end up being published in the Python Post’s latest issue… Shocking!!
But, luckily for you, I still plan to poke a bit of fun at older generations for their misconstrued idea of senioritis. I want to speak more about my experience, other seniors' experience and also look at life post high school with the help of Maty Diagne.
To preface this article, over the summer I met a lot of people who were in college, planned to attend college eventually, or just didn’t want anything to do with college or trade school. Obviously they all live their lives differently and want different things for themselves but that's what inspired me to write this paper and explore senioritis during senior year vs senioritis post high school (aka the long run).
I think a lot of teens who are approaching graduation and are entering their senior year have this fear of what happens after high school. Some are worried about what their plan is, others are worried because they have no plan, and then there’s the students who are just trying to get by and make it to graduation. All of these are valid no matter which one you are, plan to be, or were (if you graduated). I’d like to give my idea of reassurance before deep diving into the article:
From Emilie: You don’t have to have it figured out by grad, before grad or whatever due date you or your loved ones has given you. Your pace, your plans, what you do and what you don’t want for yourself are extremely valid and you’re doing a great job.
From Maty: Many of us are still finding ourselves as we go on through this journey called life. Celebrate your success and setbacks because they have shaped the person you are today. This is your life, your story, the power is in your hands.
Senioritis vs. Maty
Senioritis for me is my setback for my senior year. Through my years in high school, school came easy for me. It was my senior year when things went left. 9th grade year I was passing with flying colors, and in 10th and 11th grade I decided to take AP classes to challenge myself a bit more. Here we are in the 12th grade year, my first year where I am not satisfied with my grades so far, overwhelmed by the college process, and reality is setting in, 3 more months left of school and I am constantly wondering if I did enough?
Senioritis vs. Emilie
Senioritis began for me in 11th grade. Being in and out of the hospital dealing with PCOD as well as loving the home environment more than actual school caused me to fall back by a lot. I knew that this wasn’t even a hint of the potential that I know I can possess but I found it extremely challenging to balance both my mental health and my academics. In the end I chose my mental health, and I’ll never regret that decision. But through the conversations I’ve had with Ms. Diaz, I don’t believe I actually chose myself. I tend to self-sabotage and I genuinely hate asking for help. During my senior year, to motivate me, I started a nursing program and fully mapped out my future. I know where I want to be, what I want to do with my talent, but what good is knowing any of that if I can’t even show up (on time) to said space?
Senioritis vs. Headspace: High School and Post High School:
As Emilie mentioned, I interviewed students that you’ll typically see in the PSL office and their experience with senioritis, Shane Forbes and Yahillyah Shiam. When asked about the actual reality of senior year, Shane expressed that it’s been a fun year but the most different out of the 3 years. The year where he experienced the most change and growth. He feels like this year is a lot of sitting in the uncomfortableness and expecting the unexpected.
Yahillyah on the other hand believes “this year is very unrealistic.” She mentioned that “ The amount of work that’s given is way too much” and that often the fun we do have is cut short. She is at a point where she “just wants to graduate to be done with school but I still want to somehow make the best of the time I have left.” We feel you girl, we sure do.
We then proceeded to ask them “How do you feel like senioritis affects you?”
Shane brought up that senioritis affects him because it made him feel like he put in so much work just to feel drained, and there's moments where he didn't feel like he put his best effort. Ms. Shiam talked about how she didn’t believe senioritis wasn’t real. People will never truly understand something until it happens to them. “When I first started staying home and not doing work I thought I was just being lazy but then I realized that there was no motivation or purpose behind what I was doing.” Definitely food for though losing motivation for the one thing that can make or break your life is a crazy thing.
With senioritis already being an obstacle for many seniors, currently it makes you wonder what could happen post high school. Yahillyah discusses how she hopes she does not still feel stressed. “I’ve already had that for so many years and this is my last year but college is after this and I’m gonna have to go through it all again so I guess I have no choice but to push through.” While Shane Forbes says that “Having to navigate the real world and adulthood can be scary”. He's not really sure what can happen to his full ride to his college, especially since senioritis can take it from him.
Sometimes I wish I could go back in time, especially during the college process, so I asked the question of “What would you do differently during your high school / senior year?”
Yahillyah said that she wouldn’t take the amount of AP classes that she did: “I think that really overwhelmed me and it still is only for me to not pass half of them. It’ll probably end up being a waste of time and I would’ve been better off taking regular classes with one or two advanced and have good grades and a reasonable schedule. I think I would’ve submitted my college application early to a good school instead of worrying about if the schools I’m doing now are good or not and if I’ll get the financial aid.”
Such an interesting take from Yahillyah's point of view. Mr. Forbes mentions how he would have put himself out there more and not mentally clock out, “So I can build the habits I need and not be in the situation I am today.”
While questioning senioritis and its legitimacy our big question is “Do you recognize that this is not your full potential?”
Shane Forbes emphasizes that fact with the two words “Of Course.”
Yahillyah Shaim says that “I knew that this wasn’t what my potential is and I can do so much better but those are just words. If I don’t put in work or effort then nothing won’t change and there won’t be any outcome. I’m also someone who likes to set high expectations for herself and when I don’t meet those expectations I end up being disappointed in myself and I just don’t try because I rather do nothing and fail than do something and still fail because it’s not good enough.” Such a beautiful way to put it and just being aware of such a barrier like senioritis can do you so much good. Being aware is the first step to change.
As mentioned earlier, I wanted to interview students that were similar to myself. Those who were heavily experiencing senioritis, which would mean that they frequently miss school, often come late and lack the effort to complete the work given. I interviewed a couple of seniors but the one that stood out to me the most was Dzidefo Akatsa’s interview. I approached the interviews with a different mindset. Instead of asking students how they feel and their direct relationship with senioritis, I questioned their impact and their habits. Overall the underlying causes of senioritis.
In terms of your 4 years at CSH are you proud of what you accomplished?
DD: “I’m not proud grade wise. But character wise I improved and went from being introverted to semi extroverted. If I was more focused on work I’d be way better in terms of pride but then again it would’ve felt overwhelming.”
Are you worried at all for your future outside of CSH? If so, what are the bad habits that’ll potentially follow along with you?
DD: “I’m worried if I’ll make it to become successful. On the flip side, I get very complacent when things are going well. That's when it backfires. I don’t really know where my plans or goals are looking like outside Comp Sci High, I’m still figuring that out.”
What would you advise students who are similar to you to do differently?
DD: “I would advise them to ask teachers or even try to get in contact with me on what I did to cope with highschool or if they have any mental health problems. You don’t only have to talk to teachers in Comp Sci High but there’s people outside of the space that will listen and advise them.”
The key points and similarities that I saw with many of my interviews are comfortability with simplicity, and investing more into their mental health-being that having the right headspace allows them to be the person they want to be both inside and outside of school.
You know what senioritis looks like when it dwells within the 4 walls of a high school. But I’ve heard my entire life that bad habits start when you’re young and will follow you all throughout if you don’t get rid of them. And I wanted to really test that theory. Overall seeing what happens to the valedictorians, the popular kids, and the introverts after receiving their diploma.
Senioritis v. The Real World:
Despite getting a diploma, what does senioritis look like in the real world? Is it just pure laziness? Can it still be called senioritis? What does life look like for those who dealt with senioritis? I knew I wanted to interview people who were already into their first year approaching their second in college, adults and those who chose to “go where the funds are”, basically those who are free-balling life.
With these interviews I cared less about their accomplishments but more so if they’re enjoying life, learning new things about themselves and adulthood and their readiness in terms of whatever else life may bring to them. I began with people who chose the college path.
What’s something you wish you listened to, considering the position you’re in currently?
Tracy (Instagram: ok.girlyy): If there’s one thing I wish I listened to considering the position I’m in currently, it would be to not try to do everything at once…Take my time and grow up. Because to be completely honest, I’ve done did everything there is to do. So now, I’m 19 and not that many things, I haven’t done before. It’s like, life is boring and I wish I waited to do a lot of stuff instead of trying to fit it into 2 years. So yeah, I wish I would've listened to learning to be patient. Taking my time to grow up.
Are you happy? Did you see yourself where you are right now?
Ishmael (Instagram: prodbyGhxst): I mean to be completely honest, I wasn’t always good with school. I’m more street and “life” smart you can say rather than book smart. I was the class clown and that one kid that would always speak to everyone, but I knew that the college route was definitely not for me. To answer your question, I’m at a better place, I wouldn’t call myself happy but I’m making bread and part-time doing what I love (producing music). I didn’t see myself here being interviewed about my life. Everyone pictures where they want to be but not look at the steps that it takes to paint that picture.
Are you in college/trade school? If not, what’s your reasoning for not attending?
Christopher (Instagram: chriswearscoolpants): I’m currently not enrolled in college. I came to NYC late and missed the semester so I’m just waiting for the next school year to roll around so that I can attend school for photography. I’m happy with life, I have good skin, making money doing what I love, and I don’t see the point in looking for things to complain about. I’d rather appreciate what I’ve made and what I’ve done, dwelling on what if’s prevents us from moving forward and exploring new opportunities.
What’s something you could take back if it meant you’d be in a better place generally speaking?
Ayanna (Former coworker): I lived a long life honestly and I’ve done did things I can write a book about. I would take back a lot but that means I wouldn’t have met the people I’ve met. I’m not living the life I dreamed of living when I was 18 because I wasn’t as dedicated to achieving that the way I am now. Its not too late for me to chase that dream, and I think I’m in a somewhat okay place.
Final Thoughts:
From Emilie: If you take away one thing from reading this entire paper and your senior year is that failure is only okay when your next effort is to actively combat that failure. Senioritis for me now is just a phase, outside these four walls I know what I plan to accomplish and where I want to be, it's just a matter of actually doing what it takes to get there. I have several regrets in terms of my high school career but I don’t see the good in having any regrets, I’d rather appreciate where I’m heading and who I plan to be.
From Maty: Senioritis doesn’t define who you are as a person, this is just the stumbling block for the moment. As long as you are conscious of your actions and plan on doing better you are unstoppable.