Second semester of senior year is a mixed bag of excitement, anxiety and a little (a lot) of exhaustion. ‘Senioritis,’ or the infamous ‘senior slump,’ sneaks in like an uninvited guest, making motivation feel like a scarce resource. As graduation comes, many Grayslake Central seniors find themselves caught between the thrill of finishing and the temptation to check out early.
Take GCHS senior Lillian Spicer, a master of balancing these two emotions. “As much as I love school and being in a different environment other than my house, sometimes it stresses me out so much.” It also leaves a questioning feeling, wondering why anything matters anymore after figuring out future plans outside of Grayslake Central. “I’m literally already in college. Why do I need finals?” Spicer said.
Senioritis is not just laziness or a lack of care. Its a real challenge that affects focus, energy, and sometimes even attendance. Teachers who spend their days with seniors see it first hand. GCHS math teacher Matthew Bridges, who teaches solely senior math classes said “Kids might be more absent, more willing to take mental health days.”
But the story doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Seniors are finding creative ways to stay on track and chase those last few months with purpose. Central senior Adi Patel says his motivation to continue is simple: “I got to get out of this place and I got to make money.”
Spicer said “I rant to my mom and then I like, beg her to take me to get ice cream.”
Teachers also play a crucial role in keeping seniors engaged without adding stress, Bridges says. “The biggest thing is just building relationships with kids, and then if you challenge them to do the work they should do, and you have a mutual respectful relationship, I think that goes a long way.”
Beyond teacher’s pushing, supporting, and motivating seniors through senioritis, many students themselves should also emphasize the importance of building that regime and essential skills extending beyond high school. Learning to show up and put in the effort even when motivation is low or the conditions aren’t ideal is necessary. Bridges explains, “It’s just more of finding that discipline, like working and sharpening the skills that you’re going to need the rest of your life. So its encouraging that when things are really hard, when you want to hit the snooze button, get up and do it anyway. When it’s raining outside, and you need to go for a run, you should go for a run, even if it’s raining outside.”
Senioritis might be part of the senior experience, but it doesn’t have to define it. With a mix of grit, support, and self care, seniors like Patel and Spicer and teachers like Bridges are proving that the infamous senior slump can be beaten.
