Greenwood High School report: Combatting ‘Senioritis’ tough but necessary

story by Erika Lindsay and Randi, student journalists from Greenwood High School

Near the end of the school year, seniors get restless. College acceptances have already gone out, scholarships have been awarded and seniors decide they don’t want to work anymore.

A virus dubbed "Senioritis" is spreading throughout the schools in our nation. It happens every year and every soon-to-be graduating class has to combat the virus that could make or break their senior year.

“Yeah, but I never really did any work anyways. I have found myself being a little more lazy,” responded senior Mason Hernandez when asked if he suffered from Senioritis.

Numerous seniors have been found sleeping and not paying attention during classes. This leads to grades slipping. A misconception that most have is that colleges do not count your last semester of your senior year as a measure for acceptance and scholarships. The truth is that colleges do take the last semester of senior year into consideration. Seniors who fall into the Senioritis symptoms are at risk of having their scholarships and acceptances revoked.

When it comes to keeping seniors on task, English teacher Mrs. Tarver said, “I give lots of points, usually about four days a week. I just try to keep them on task. We do a lot of work and a lot of reading.”

Teachers try to encourage seniors since this is the last stretch of their high school career. They will be leaving for college the next fall. Staying on task now will pay off later, according to Tarver.

“I remind them (seniors) that they are not going to graduate if they don’t keep doing their work,” said Greenwood High School counselor Sherry Escalante.

Studying and doing homework definitely declines as the year progresses, and seniors have to try extra hard to pay attention and not totally give up. Many are weary of high school and do not even want to go to school.

Senior Chelsea Hartman said, "I dread coming to school. I don’t care, and I never do homework."

Senioritis is something that all seniors fight, but deal with in different ways. Whether it is trying harder to push themselves, or keeping their heads up during class, every senior combats this particular virus in their own way.

“I just try to do well on tests and get any extra credit I can,” Hernandez explained.

Keeping their nose to the books and eyes on the prize, seniors will be able to take down Senioritis.