Senioritis: one of the most stealthy and misunderstood diseases known to college students across the world. Skulking in the back of seniors’ minds across all continents, it slowly rears its head to show itself at the most inopportune times of the day as if to say “Hey, you know you’re almost done right? Why not call it in a little early?” At its worst, senioritis has the capability of completely rendering students unwilling to go to class due to an overload of apathy and loathing for classwork.
However, once tamed, senioritis can be one of the strongest motivators at the end of the semester; it all comes down to mindset. So whether you’re just about to graduate this fall, heading out with your degree this spring, or aren’t even a senior but still experiencing senioritis-like symptoms, don’t worry we’ve got you covered! No matter to what degree you’re feeling it, here are some great ways that you can start to control the motivation-draining disease of senioritis today.
Finding ways to make motivation out of senioritis can prove to be an immense difficulty. “Since midterm break ended, I feel like my motivation has started to decline. This affects my mood at the end of the day because after having back to back labs from Monday to Wednesday, all my motivation is depleted despite having a test the next day or the day after,” Nadchen Aralquez (senior, medical laboratory sciences) states in regard to her experiences with senioritis. “I’d have to say that senioritis can both motivate me and become a problem. It just depends if I have the energy to do something about my motivation or lack thereof.”
Despite its bad reputation, the feeling of senioritis can be just as beneficial to your studies as it can be hindersome. One of the best ways to take control of the lack of motivation is to, well, rediscover it! This may mean studying in a completely new environment free of those go-to distractions, surrounding yourself with individuals with similar or greater academic goals than yourself, or taking a break to do a hobby that gets you out of the academic mindset for a while, such as working out or socializing. Try to keep daily activities in your day fresh and exciting so your mind doesn’t have the space to ponder the lack of motivation.
In the midst of senioritis, it is sometimes easy to forget to take care of yourself. The meals become fewer and all-nighter streaks begin as the deadlines grow closer and closer. Please don’t do this! Leaving your body absent of what it needs to function, such as proper nutrients and sleep, will have a negative impact on more than just your academic life. Take care of your physical and mental energy by looking out for your own health.
Lastly, don’t forget to invite God to help you control the temptation of falling into the senioritis cycle. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41 NIV).
As the graduation deadline gets closer and closer, take it as an opportunity to remind yourself of what you’re doing all of this for. “Why did I go to college? What is my purpose in life afterward? How am I going to apply what I have learned going forward?” Keep your eye on the best vision for your life as the semester finishes up.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.