Senioritis has hit the senior population of Battle High School in their last days of their school year. Whatever the circumstances of each individual senior in one form or another it has affected them all.

But what even is senioritis? Senioritis is the decline or lack of motivation to continue to put in effort to work for school after working towards a high school diploma for four years. That’s the general definition of senioritis but that doesn’t mean it’s the same for every senior. 

For Asia Smith, senior, the definition could not be more spot on. “Senioritis is the amount of jet lag that one can possibly experience from doing four years of course work and extracurriculars and the mental burden of high school all into one.” 

In the case of Natalie McNeeley, senior, it means something completely different. “It’s the beginning of thinking past your life in high school, thinking of your future plans and just thinking outside of what am I gonna eat at school tomorrow, and just being ready to enter that next stage of your life.”

Not every senior is affected by senioritis the same way and that definitely means they don’t all get it at the same time. The changes in the way we learn that has been constant this school year has affected when some seniors experience the mental state.

“In the fall semester during COVID and we had to quarantine and stay home and do all of our school, I didn’t really want to do any of my classes. I would skip Zoom calls just cause I didn’t want to wake up in time … I just wanted to be done with the year,” said Kenny Miller, senior. 

But for some seniors senioritis hit at a completely different time. “This semester it’s hitting the hardest it’s ever been.” said Smith. “My body was just anticipating that it’s the end of the year and that’s finally catching up with me that I have done a lot of work and I’m tired.” Smith concluded. 

For one senior when senioritis hits is not so cut and dry, she says it’s a lot more unpredictable and constant. 

“I think it comes in waves, I feel like I had it the first day that I walked through Battle High School, but just these last couple months have been hitting really hard,” said McNeeley. “I feel like everyday it gets more and more eminent and it hasn’t like platoid yet it’s just getting even more intense.” McNeeley stated. 

One thing most seniors can agree on is that it affects their motivation or lack thereof. 

“Motivation is a struggle. Wanting to do all the assignments and stick with the work and stay studying for the tests at the end of the year whether that be for AP or regular course work, is like really hard to keep yourself motivated and to keep doing everything to the very end,” said Smith. 

When asked if COVID-19 affected their senioritis in any way the answer was clear.

“I think it has. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again I think the seniors this year we really had to grow up quickly.” said McNeeley. “I think because of that senioritis has kind of morphed into something more intense but also familiar. It has a new meaning to it because of the pandemic it’s more like … I’m ready to start living instead of I’m ready to get out of high school,” McNeeley said. 

Smith talked about how COVID-19 is not the only factor that has affected her.

“I think it exasperated it yes because not only on top of school work and extracurriculars and whatever else you’re doing you have to deal with being in a constant stress of a pandemic. But not only that justice as well is not necessary relieving that we are still dealing with racism and we have to deal with everyday and then another name on the tv that’s not adding to any good,” said Smith

There are so many factors that go into senioritis and when you experience it how it affects you, and what sets it off. But no matter what, stay strong seniors we are almost done.