The Home Stretch

By Ava F.

This one is for the seniors. We are getting ready to transition to a whole new season of life, an exciting and new one. You know, after we graduate from high school and everything. I definitely haven’t forgotten about that point, but I have also noticed a sort of decline in my motivation and care. Okay fine, not a sort of decline, a definite decline. I have decided to go ahead and give myself a degree and diagnose myself with a little thing called senioritis. It is, as defined by our good friend, dictionary.com, “a decline in motivation or academic performance that supposedly afflicts some seniors in high school, especially in their last term.” Now, there is also a little thing called laziness, which carries about the same symptoms so you can make the call for yourself on that one. 

In order to make this differentiation, I think it is important to look at what is really causing this lack of motivation. Is it the thought that you’ve already been accepted into a university and don’t need to try anymore? The anticipation and excitement for the future that makes you forget what you still need to finish? Maybe it’s burnout, or like me, you are getting sentimental about graduation and want to live in the moment without the worry of schoolwork.

There is a cure to senioritis; in fact, there are several. If you think you don’t have to worry because you have already been accepted into a university, think again. Universities hold the power to rescind acceptance offers to students if their grades significantly drop (CollegeBoard). If it is the anticipation for the future causing your senioritis, try to remember that this is the last time you will ever be in high school (hopefully). Do not wish time away when it already flies by. If it’s burnout, or you are bored and sick of school taking up so much time, try to set attainable, small goals for yourself every day. Do not set unreachable expectations, and you should reward yourself every now and then, but I don’t mean the, “I wrote one sentence, let's take an hour break” kind of reward. There are a ton of tips out there for how to take it day by day. Senioritis is not an actual medical condition—hopefully you have realized that by now—which means that there are really no limits to the possibilities for cures! If nothing is working for you, discover your own cure, go wild. Just remember not to give up, we’re in the home stretch now. 

Whether you are heading to a traditional university, taking a gap year or another path, we are all about to enter a new season of life. Be excited but don’t forget where you are right now. Try and embrace the ups and downs of this last semester as we are nearing the end. If this end is bittersweet and you’re feeling sentimental like me, remember God has a lot of grace on us during times like this. He does an amazing job of preparing our hearts for the end as it draws closer and, by the time it comes, you’ll be okay with it. You might even be more than okay with it; like so ready you would walk on legos to reach the door to get out of here. Hopefully not that ready though, we want to exit on a positive note. In any case, I think this point applies to all of us. The year will be over before we know it, let’s choose how we want to remember it.

Columns: 🗣️Advice

Ava F. is a senior who has attended NSA for three years and this is her first year on the Navigator. She lives in the Middle East with her parents and younger brother. She loves learning about other cultures and hopes to pursue a career that will allow her to travel or live abroad. In her free time she enjoys horseback riding, boxing, learning Arabic, reading, and painting.

🗣️AdviceEIC NSA2021-2022, April 2022 Issue