Listen Here
By: Cory Berlekamp
Email: Berlekampc@findlay.edu
As we head in to the home stretch of the spring semester it is important to remember that these last weeks are what really count. Most of our classes have projects that make up half of our grade or finish with an exam that is comparable. But it is hard to focus when all we can think about are the white sands and blue skies that come after.
According to the google dictionary, senoritis is “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.”
I take issue with this definition.
First of all, how dare they say “supposed” when the second half of my senior year of high school was spent staring at blank canvases in all four of my art classes. There are people who like to sprint towards the finish line and good for them but to say that there isn’t a portion of the population that enjoys just coasting on fumes for the final stretch goes against something that happens so much that we gave it a name. Don’t take my word for it, in an article published by Southern New Hampshire University, academic advisor Abby Tincher describes it as “seeing the finish line and realizing you don’t necessarily have to work as hard anymore to reach it.” I am sure many of the University of Findlay of faculty would agree and have seen it time and time again.
Now comes my second issue; it is not exclusive for seniors. I have felt this over and over throughout my schooling or even long work weeks. It is the inevitable feeling of “haven’t I done enough?” Well, no you haven’t. You are still in the semester, you are still on the clock, no matter how you swing it there is still work to be done.
In the SNHU article they give tips for overcoming this “illness”, mental block, laziness, or whatever thing you want to call it and I think they work just as well for all students, not just seniors. Along with talking to your academic advisor (sounds like they were trying to make themselves sound good in that article), guidance counselor, or career advisor, students can also set goals to get motivated; reward yourself (when you actually do something good), get organized, find support, change things up, and finally take a break (this doesn’t mean skip class).
Whether you do some of these things or all of these things, just remember that last part of the semester is just as, if not more important than the beginning and middle. Also, if it helps motivate you, think about how much money you just spent on your schooling. Don’t just give them that money, make them earn it by grading that final project.
