Everybody has heard tall tales about the disease they call “Senioritis.” Teachers call students lazy and unmotivated, and the students respond with a “disease” that is both an excuse and reason for their missing or sloppy assignments. It infected many seniors before me, and I watched many of my past peers fall victim to the lack of motivation and drive in schoolwork. I thought that the people complaining about it, writing stories about it and skipping classes were unmotivated and needed to find their reason to keep pushing. I promised myself that it would not hit me, that I would persevere. But it did. It hit hard.
I caught the virus towards the end of my first semester. For the first time in my life, I did not want to study for any of my finals or classes. I felt like I was a different person compared to the sophomore or junior who over studied for every single test, small or large. I thought that I would have enough time to recover around winter break, but I was completely unprepared for what would come once I returned to school.
From the moment I got back to GHS, the illness had spread from a common cold to full-blow emergency. From showing up to the first period moments before the bell to wandering the hallways, I could tell that my peers had been infected as well. I found myself with mountains of assignments from both required classes and the classes I chose to take. My weeknights were spent slumped over study guides, presentation projects and essays, all while trying to balance my sports and personal life. I felt like I was treading water in a river, just trying to keep my head above water while deadlines, test dates, and my life rushed past me.
My “senioritis” has become severe, and sometimes it feels like the disease is spreading from my toes to my forehead. Every bone in my body is tired. Tired of high school, tired of meaningless assignments and tired of the hustle and bustle. The lack of free time is wearing me down, and I think the only medicine that will help is the time I have with friends, family and no school stress. I am finally beginning to understand the dangers the past seniors warned me about. The lack of drive and inspiration hit me, too, and it hit hard. I know that it will get better soon, and everything will smooth out, but for now, I am stuck in a tornado of school and stress that does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
