By Bretton Lam, @deca.bretton | Basis Independent Silicon Valley, CA
The syllabus and teachers constantly remind you about that final project worth 40% of your total grade. Yet your brain is checked out, clouded with thoughts of indifference and for the first time, it feels like your grade doesn’t even matter. That’s the feeling of senioritis: complete mental exhaustion and disinterest that hits seniors in the final stretch of high school.
As someone who’s constantly felt this all year, senioritis doesn’t just feel like laziness; it feels like I’m burnt out. My school operates on a trimester system, dividing the academic year into three grading periods. What makes our schedule unique is that senior year is dedicated entirely to capstone courses—and by the third trimester, seniors no longer have to attend school. That means six whole months of summer!
Although six months of summer seem like a blessing, you quickly miss school and the countless side quests with your friends.
Here are a few ways you can help combat senioritis, from a senior with no school.
1. College Season Isn’t Over
Despite being done with your essays and submitting your college applications, remember the process isn’t over. Rejection might be redirection, but what if you are waitlisted or deferred? Colleges need to see how you have continued to push yourself academically and expand your accomplishments. Maintain a high GPA and continue making an impact within the school clubs and extracurriculars you have been devoted to for the last three years.
2. Travel
As soon as my second trimester ended, I knew there was no better way to spend the few months than to travel. Within the first month, my friend group went skiing in Lake Tahoe for a week, spent another two traveling across Japan and capped off our adventurous month with a few days in Disneyland.
Traveling not only gave us something to look forward to, but it also replaced the classroom with a different kind of learning, one built on new experiences and shared memories.
Whether it's a road trip a few hours away or a flight across the world, stepping outside your routine is one of the best ways to relieve a burnt-out mind. But beyond just traveling with friends, spend these next few months with your family and loved ones. Cherish every second with them while you still can.
3. Get a Job or Internship
Many of my friends and peers have chosen to get a job or internship with so much time on their hands. Hands-on experience with real customers sharpens your mind and develops practical skills that go beyond anything a textbook can teach.
Whether you are concocting drinks behind the counter at Starbucks or shadowing partners at a VC firm, building your resume while deepening your expertise is one of the most rewarding ways to spend some of your last months as a high schooler.
