This article was featured in the opinions and editorials section of my school newspaper.

Senioritis: an affliction characterized by avid tardiness, absence, procrastination and the ability to miraculously graduate despite producing the most minimal amount of work possible. I self-diagnosed Senioritis this weekend as I began writing a 2,000 word research paper for Bov midday Sunday, a feat that should have started Friday after school. When I looked further into my disease, I realized that there was really no reason to put this assignment off for so long; the remainder of my schedule consists of Annual, Independent Study, Mentorship and Senior Release. In the past three years I have managed to juggle a math, science, English and social studies requirement along with FFA, ASB and cheerleading among other various responsibilities. What happened?
In my opinion, seniors are losing their motivation. The larger portion of seniors have passed the WASL, fulfilled most of their credit requirements, applied to college (or chosen another post-secondary plan) and feel there is no more reason to excel. My first acceptance letter came in the mail a while back and as I read it, most of my stress involved with graduating disappeared. I was in, I was accepted, and I was going to college. However, a certain amount of stress is necessary, in order to complete the year with a decent GPA and a diploma. Don’t let those acceptance letters fool you, any school can deny you admission if by the end of the year, your grades have slipped dramatically. Senioritis is a dangerous ailment; it can leave people scrambling in May to do 40 hours of community service (which is what I fear for myself), or worse: unable to graduate as planned for not fulfilling all of the requirements.
I have personally been taking major steps to eradicate my Senioritis. I have started doing my homework right after school rather than in the late evening, I keep a planner, and I stopped myself from spreading myself too thin by focusing on just a few school clubs rather than all of them. I know that my method won’t work for everyone (sometimes it doesn’t even work for me), but I encourage all seniors to actively work towards finishing the year with the same enthusiasm and quality of work as they started freshman year. Naturally, there will always be those who lack motivation regardless of their graduation year. Slacking does not apply to only seniors; however, we’re the only ones who have the excuse. Attention Juniors: Just like Senior parking and Senior Skip Day, YOU HAVE TO BE A SENIOR TO HAVE SENIORITIS, otherwise you’re not sick, you’re just lazy.