Everyday walking through Lone Oak I hear this one phrase repeated many times by other students - we seniors, are the laziest senior class Lone Oak has ever had.  We did not pull a senior prank, we are notorious for showing less school spirit than previous classes, and almost every single one of us show the famous “senioritis” disease - basically becoming lazy simply because you’re a senior.  Many different symptoms encompass senioritis - let us begin exploring the diagnosis of senioritis and how to rid of it before we go to college.

Not Getting Ready in the Mornings

    You see those people, who at the beginning of the year wore jeans and nice t-shirts, brushed their hair nicely, and maybe for girls wore some makeup.  But as their senior year went on, their desire to look decent seemed to disappear.  From wearing the nice clothes and combing their hair, turned into sweatpants and hair tied in messy buns that could’ve been done in 2 minutes.  I have even seen some seniors not wash their hair - disgusting.  Please wash your hair.

Procrastination

    Well, procrastination is something many of us have done all of high school, but people who previously would get their work done 3 days before due are now doing it the class before it’s due.  Some of us blatantly don’t do our work - we don’t even attempt.  Now, some of us do forget, or we worked a shift until 11 P.M. and as if we’re doing those 40 AP Stats problems we were assigned.  Because of this, it often causes our next symptom...

Falling Grades

    Falling grades, often caused by procrastination and not doing work, is another symptom of senioritis.  This one is not displayed by all those with senioritis, because some seniors maybe decided to take easy classes their senior year, or they are scurrying to get their GPA up to get scholarships.  Falling grades can also be caused by not studying for tests, or seniors who thought they could take AP classes when in reality, it was probably the worst decision of their senior year.  Some seniors tried their first semester, doing better than normal with their grades, but second semester “doesn’t matter” so they don’t try. 

Tiredness

    Seniors are often out working till late hours at night, and often do not get as much sleep as they would need.  Or they stay up playing Halo 4, or texting their boyfriend.  Either way, this is often encompassed in the symptoms of senioritis, and we often pay for it.  We will fall asleep in class and get reprimanded, grades deducted, miss the notes for the test next class, or even in Mr. Simmons class - get sprayed with a water gun.  It’s happened before, trust me.

Easy Agitation

    Seniors often believe that because their seniors that they shouldn’t have actual rules, or homework, or really have to do anything.  Because of this, if any paper is thrown in front of a senior with a severe case of senioritis, they may whine even about having to write their name.  They may get agitated by the way someone talks, if people are walking too slow, if a classroom smells different, anything can make a senior upset.  Seniors often expect everything should be catered to them.

Skipping School

    No, we’d never skip school, why would we do that?  Okay let’s stop pretending, it’s the end of the school year, we have at least skipped once or twice.  Fun fact, if your friend is skipping, here’s how to tell.  If they are gone in the middle of the week (like a Wednesday) claiming their “sick,” and they come back to school the next day and complain of no symptoms, they were probably skipping.  As if we couldn’t figure that one out.

Treatment

    With many of us going off to college next year, as seniors we must be able to get our butts in gear in time for our freshman year in college.  Though being lazy occasionally in high school is acceptable, when we get to college we don’t want it to be like walking into a glass door when we are thrown into writing papers and taking tests, and not do simple worksheets we can google.  Yes, we have been here for 4 years and sometimes teachers do need to cut us some slack here and there - but we must understand that in the future, getting lazy can prevent you from getting the job you want in the future.

    So what’s Dr. Chambers’ professional advice for combatting senioritis before going to college?  Well this summer take a good break.  Have a good time and enjoy everyday.  Go outside, eat healthy (unless offered ice cream on a hot day), drink plenty of water, read a book, do whatever makes you happy.  Spend as much time with your family and friends as possible since you won’t see them as much in college.  If you have a job, be sure you do your best work at all times.  Then, when it comes time for college, be sure you’re organized.  Have all your books, your computer, your notebooks, pens and paper, everything you need.  Keep yourself clean - don’t let those old habits of not getting ready slip into your daily routine, because this could lead to a future bad first impression of you.  Always make time to study, and keep those healthy habits you did during the summer.  Never skip class!  That could be your downfall. 

    If you follow my not-professional and non-medical advice, you can at least make it through this senior year and eventually have a great time at college.  I look forward to you following your college dreams.