Sean Conley
Madison Cappuccio
An annual decline in effort and performance is, again, making its rounds within the senior student body as their high school careers come to a close. The diagnosis? Senioritis. The class of 2019, like the senior classes before it, is struggling to finish out the year with ambition as the looming reality of leaving high school becomes more evident.
“I don’t want to think,” senior Cassidy Fitzpatrick said. “I just want to sleep.”
Students aren’t the only ones having to deal with the stagnant environment. According to teachers, even they’re seeing evidence of this early onset senioritis through the difference in attitude and attention span between lower and upper classmen. Lower classmen can tend to be more driven and motivated when compared to their elder peers.
“Daily attendance goes down,” English and Journalism teacher Kristina Dumbeck said. “seniors tend to be less serious, less motivated…and sometimes checked out.”
However, some seniors are immune to the symptoms of senioritis. They claim that, while the difference between prior years and their current year are clear, senior year is actually pushing them to be better, as they simply have more to do and want to make a lasting impact on the school.
“My motivation this year has greatly increased from last year since I have more things to worry about,” Senior Daniela Rojas states. “Senior year is very different because I care more about my contribution to our school … I’ve learned to control and balance everything.”
While senioritis continues to infect of more and more students throughout the year, most seniors will still graduate with passing grades and continue onto future endeavours. A common goal has formed between upperclassmen and faculty: both parties strive for the walk, diploma, and cap and gown in early June.