‘Senioritis’ anathema to some, an escape for others

The symptoms: lethargy, baggy eyes and a loss of interest in the productive activities of one’s life. The diagnosis? Senioritis — the laziness that strikes seniors during their second semesters, about when they complete their college applications.

Some accept senioritis as a relaxing fantasy — a blue-pill-esque escape — while others reject it as a self-inflicted Placebo and choose the harsher reality of hard work. Opinions are split; some, like senior Tiffany Yung, argue that the second semester of senior year is a good time to relax a bit before the stress of college.

“I think that [senioritis can be] good, because all these years, you’ve been working for grades,” Yung said. “Now you’re still working because of APs, but you’re more relaxed, and there’s less pressure on you.”

People like English teacher Catherine Head, however, argue the opposite — that seniors should hold second semester just as highly as their previous years of high school.

“I think that it’s very tempting,” Head said. “Certainly, the seniors have put in four years of extremely hard work. However, because there’s that mythology out there that you can slack off and it’s OK, it’s very tempting to go ahead and do that. But I think it is a myth. There is not an acceptable reason to slack off.”

Head also warns about the dangers of loosening one’s work ethic.

“In fact, people do find themselves losing their [colleges] acceptances,” she said. “Essentially [colleges are saying], ‘If you are what you look like you are now, we’ll take you, but if your grades drop, you’re out.’”

Head continued, “There’s also, in my senior classes, an added commitment if you’re taking AP. That even goes for people who aren’t planning on taking the AP test, because what they do affects how the whole class feels.”

Physics teacher Kirk Davis agrees that senioritis has the potential to mar one’s second semester of senior year.

“I admit I was afflicted by it when I was a senior,” he said. “I also will admit that I went to our senior ditch day. It was a real mistake, so I would encourage everyone not to do that.”

Both teachers have noticed the so-called “senior slump” hurt their students — and their performance.

“Have I seen concrete evidence that there is such a thing [as senioritis]? Oh, absolutely,” Head said. “Every year I see it, and the people who really slump do regret it.”

Senior Bhavana Vadrevu, too, believes senioritis is erroneously based on the misguided importance students put on grades.

“I don’t think that grades are only to show to colleges,” Vadrevu said. “They’re a way of proving to yourself that you did a good job and learned.”

Instead of giving into the laziness of senioritis, Vadrevu saw the value of her final semester at Saratoga High.

“For me, it was like, ‘Wow, this is really important. This is the last time I have in high school, ever,’” she said. “I think it’s even more motivating to be a second semester senior.”

However, Davis recommends that the seniors should relax a little during their final months of high school.

“In terms of senioritis … Don’t resist it too much, but resist it a little bit,” he said. “Don’t change your behavior so that you’re absolutely a different person than who you really are. I mean, you’ve got to enjoy life as well, you know? It’s not all about school.”