Somewhere between college acceptances and final exams, an entire class of seniors just…stop caring. At this point, showing up to class seems to count as participation. Homework? Seems optional. Studying? A distant memory. If senior year started as a marathon, this would be the part where everyone stops running and starts crawling to the finish line. This is what we call senioritis, a rite of passage filled with late arrivals, half-done work, and a whole lot of pretending to be busy.
But is this just harmless coasting, or is there more going on beneath the surface? To figure it out, I spoke to seniors deep in the slump and teachers who experience it every year to find out what senioritis really looks like and how far students are willing to push limits.
Mr. Breen, the AP Computer Science teacher, shared how he approaches seniors during this time of year. “I understand the senior point of view,” he said. “I recognize where they are mentally, and I know not to pressure them too much but to just remind them they still have to get it done.” Of course, that understanding also means encountering some creative excuses. One of his favorites? “I have to leave early to get a haircut,” a student told him, though it became clear later that no haircut actually happened.
And while some teachers like Mr. Breen may play it cool, seniors know they don’t exactly go unnoticed. Teachers might not call it out directly, but the signs are there, and students know it. “I feel like they can tell when you’re not doing much work and not really paying attention,” senior Avery Nicholson said. After all, it’s hard to act engaged when your laptop is open and your brain is already on graduation.
Of course, most students aren’t trying to hide it either. Senior Chris Lofton didn’t hesitate when asked about his go-to excuse for unfinished homework. “Being too tired,” he said. “It’s simple, believable, and honestly… kind of true.” At this point, it’s less about fooling anyone and more about surviving on whatever you’ve got left.
But how motivated is he really, on a scale from 1 to “I can’t be bothered?” “I’d say a 7 or a 7.5 just for the simple fact that we’re about to graduate and are pretty much done with high school.” In other words, the finish line is in reach, but the energy to get there is running low.He doesn’t seem to be the only one feeling this way. For seniors like Brooke Schall, even making it to class on time has become a bit of a struggle. “I’ve been late to all six classes this semester,” she said. “I’d say it started second semester, and it hit really, really hard after spring break.” It’s not like they’re trying to break the rules; it’s more like slowly falling out of a groove. As the end of high school nears, so does the temptation to hit the snooze button just one more time.
In the end, senioritis isn’t just about laziness but more of a weird mix of burnout, anticipation, and the slow realization that a major chapter of your life is coming to an end. Sure, it comes with missed assignments, late arrivals, and a lot of zoning out, but it also represents change. Seniors aren’t just slacking; they’re changing. After years of routine and expectations, the final months of high school feel less like the last lap of a race and more like the calm before a whole new storm. So while they might be crawling to the finish line, they’re still moving, and for now, that’s enough.
