If you’re in high school, you’ve likely heard of the term senioritis: when seniors, typically in the second semester, start to check out.
Senioritis often kicks off at the beginning of the second semester, especially caused by the release of college acceptances. Common symptoms may include decreased motivation, lower grades, increased tardiness, and poor quality or no submission of work.
Pascack Valley High School’s Honors Psychology and Honors US History II Teacher Ryan Walter talked about his observations and life experiences; he also gave his advice to overcome senioritis.
“I’ve been teaching seniors for 26 years, and I think that the best lesson I can give to all the seniors is to remember that the school year doesn’t end at the end of the first semester,” Walter stated. “And it doesn’t end when you get into college.”
Walter explained that there are two different kinds of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic.
“You can either be motivated extrinsically or intrinsically. Extrinsic motivation is basically grades, getting into college, [and] money,” said Walter. “A better form of motivation is intrinsic motivation, and that’s what comes from inside you. And that’s when you want to do things because you care about them or you enjoy them or you’re curious or you’re interested in doing it.”
Walter explained that a major cause of senioritis is the amount of extrinsic motivation in students and the lack of intrinsic motivation.
“I think that the ultimate extrinsic motivator from a psychological point of view is getting into a college: getting into a good college, getting into the college that you want to go to,” said Walter. “And, like I said, that exposes a lot about who you are and what you’ve been doing for all these years.”
Walter noted that it’s alright to be extrinsically motivated but that it is important to keep showing up at school and avoid procrastination to steer clear of senioritis.
“There’s still work to be done. There’s still things to learn and to do. And I think that… [this is when] you find out who a person really is,” said Walter. “You find the people who are still showing up on time, and they want to learn things, and they’re happy to be here, or at least they’re okay with it. Those are the people who are intrinsically motivated.”
Additionally, Walter explained that a problem for many students towards the end of the year is that they lose their motivation to learn and the ability to focus.
“The attitude should still be, I’m willing to meet my teachers halfway… I still can learn things here,” Walter said.
Walter shared that checking out mentally before physically graduating has consequences, especially since some colleges still want to see grades from later in the year.
“I also think in terms of just personal pride,” said Walter. “Everyone’s different, but when I was a student, when I was in high school, even though it was really hard at the end of high school… I just personally would never allow myself not to do the best job I could.”
Aside from focusing on schoolwork and combating senioritis, Walter conveyed that it is also important for students to make memories.
“I mean, all the people you’ve grown up with, going to high school with… these are the last few months that you’re gonna be together,” said Walter. “I would focus on staying open and curious and then also building memories of the people you’re with right now, because it’ll never be like this again.”
