Many seniors are finding that senioritis, the traditional decline in motivation, hits harder than anticipated as the academic year draws to a close. Excitement for graduation frequently turns into a daily battle to maintain attendance, stay focused, and complete homework.

Teachers across the school have observed a difference in energy. Formerly active students are now more likely to appear fatigued, submit work late, or discreetly request extensions. Many seniors say the feeling arrives shortly after they file their college applications or when acceptance letters begin to arrive. The moment when the end feels close enough to touch.

The problem isn’t always about laziness. After years of hectic schedules, challenging coursework, and ongoing demands to make plans, many seniors report feeling mentally exhausted. For some, it’s not that they don’t care; it’s that they’re tired. It might be challenging to maintain concentration in class when juggling extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, AP exams, and post-graduation plans.

Some students, like senior Bella Dungan, find the experience to be unexpectedly hard.

“That moment when you realize the year is almost over, and suddenly everything feels harder to care about,” Dungan said.

Now that the end goal is in sight, completing daily assignments seems different.

Senior Mia Hernandez is trying to fight the senioritis, but its putting up a bigger fight than expected.

“I’m making an effort to keep up, but it seems like my energy ran out at the busiest time of the year,” Hernandez said.

Juggling extracurricular activities, college preparation, and schoolwork made every week seem more demanding than the last.

Senioritis may be a yearly occurrence, but so is watching seniors cross the stage with a sense of relief knowing they made it through one of the toughest, yet most memorable, years of their high school career.

Written by senior Finley Bruno. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.