Senioritis has started to hit the seniors at Champe. Students are losing motivation, struggling to stay focused, and both teachers and students are struggling to stay on track and push through the year.
After most college applications are submitted, it is very common to see many students in the senior class begging to slack off in school. As the year continues and we are slowly nearing the second semester, seniors are starting to feel exhausted and begin to give up after years of academic and extra curricular pressures while also having to make stressful decisions regarding their plans after graduation.
“Sometimes it just feels like my brain is completely shut off. I know I have assignments to do but I have no motivation to do it and I keep convincing myself I can do it later,” senior Sindhu Vempuluru said. “My grades are definitely taking a hit.”
This feeling is shared amongst many others. Students claim that as the school year progresses and the closer we get to graduation, it gets harder to focus. Teachers have noticed that students who once used to be enthusiastic and energetic to learn have started to barely participate or do their schoolwork. There is a shift in the energy in the classrooms.
“You can tell the students are tired and slowly giving up on school itself,” AP Statistics teacher Garrett Baltzer said. “Of course there are still many students who are putting in maximum effort and doing their best but it’s clear that seniors are starting to mentally check out.”
Attendance is a big issue as well. It has become increasingly hard for students to simply show up to school and attend all their classes. Even those with early release or late arrival struggle to motivate themselves.
“This year especially, it feels so much harder to do a full week of school. I keep finding excuses to stay home because coming to school feels exhausting,” senior Diya Sharma said. “Senioritis has already started to get me which has me worried for the second semester.”
Outside of academics as well, seniors are drained. They are influenced by the mental and emotional toll of handling college applications, scholarship essays, leadership roles, jobs, and even family responsibilities. For most, the pressure has slowly built up over the years, but senior year feels like the breaking point. The burnout has become visible for students.
“We have been pushing ourselves since freshman year and four years later now, everything feels like a chore,” Sharma said. “It feels like we deserve a break but of course school work just keeps coming.”
Many feel as if the stress from junior year carried into the start of senior year. This leaves them with very little breathing room before the next wave of deadlines and expectations hit.
“I feel like we went straight from AP exams in May straight to college and senior year stress. Senior year picked up right where junior year left off,” Vempuluru said. “It’s like we never got a chance to reset.”
Although some teachers or parents may feel like senioritis is just a lack of effort, this reflects a much larger issue within our Champe community. Students have chronic stress, busy schedules, and the expectation that students should always be working toward the next goal. Senioritis acts as a ripple effect and is seen during group projects, class discussions, and even fun school events where students seem to have no school spirit or energy. Still, teachers continue adjusting and offering support which, at the end of the day, is very appreciated by students.
“Our teachers are trying their hardest to make sure we still succeed, and they understand our struggles,” Vempuluru said. “Senioritis isn’t a joke anymore but once it blows off a little bit, we will be ready for the next chapter of our lives.”
