Some suggestions from a college senior
It’s April – the last stretch for high school seniors!
Graduation is looming.
The finish line is in sight.
Most seniors will have received offer letters for college. They may start to think “I’m already in college, why do my high school grades matter?” Senioritis starts to set in.
For many high school seniors, senioritis can lead to a big struggle to reach the finish line to graduation. They may give up on their study habits. Grades drop. They might not pass a class and then need to attend summer school. This can lead to their college acceptance being revoked.
But, there are ways to beat senioritis! Nicole, LaunchPad’s college intern, has put together some tips for seniors to fight through senioritis, graduate strong, AND still enjoy their senior year.
Keep the End Goal in Sight!
In order to finish the year without mentally checking out, it’s important to create goals for yourself. It’s most important to keep your end goal in sight. Just because you’ve received an acceptance letter, poor grades in your senior year could change your college’s decision. Having goals keeps you motivated and moving forward while keeping your study habits strong.
Keep your goals in the forefront of your mind and even write them down and put them somewhere you will see them frequently. It can be hard to hold yourself accountable, so be sure to surround yourself with people who will push you. See if your friends will make arrangements to set goals for themselves and you can hold each other accountable.
Keep in mind, it’s easy to adopt the habits of the people you’re surrounded with. If you surround yourself with people who slack off and don’t take school seriously, you’ll find it harder for yourself to stay motivated. Surround yourself with people who have the same habits and values as you. It will help you maintain your habits and values and push you to maintain them. These people will also push you to be the best version of yourself which will help keep you on track.
Have fun!
However, don’t be afraid to have fun and be goofy. Senior year shouldn’t be all work and no play. Find people who take work seriously but don’t let it consume your life. It’s important to recognize you can have fun while achieving your goals.
Be sure to reward yourself. High school is full of hard work. You have survived. That’s an accomplishment!
Received college acceptance letters? That’s another accomplishment! You put in the work, so finish strong AND reward yourself and acknowledge your accomplishment.
Plan important events with your friends and family throughout the semester. This not only gives you something to look forward to, but also means you spend some quality time with your loved ones before you leave for college.
Change Things Up!
Don’t be afraid to change things up a bit. By now, you’ve been in high school for close to 4 years and may always follow the same routine. Make small changes, even if it’s just switching up where you study by doing schoolwork somewhere new like a coffee shop or a library. Small changes with new scenery can stimulate your motivation and prepare you for the changes coming with going to college.
Change can also include participating in other activities. Explore new opportunities. Join a community engagement project, try out a new interesting class, or join a new club. With only a few months left, don’t be afraid to seek out new challenges and new experiences.
Changes in your routine keep things exciting. It allows you to look forward to something new and stimulates your brain in a new way.
Stay Organized and on Schedule
Don’t let yourself get behind with due dates and other events. To cross the finish line, it’s important to stay organized and on schedule. Senioritis takes advantage of disorganization and poor time management. Stay ahead of it and keep yourself organized. Not only will this help fight off senioritis it will help ease your stress and allow you to feel at ease.
Use a planner, calendar, or reminder app to keep track of time and tasks. It’s easier said than done to say you’ll remember everything in your head! At the end of the day, we’re all human. Using a planner or calendar will help you stay ahead of due dates and feel more stress-free.
Make to-do lists to help prioritize your day. Having a written reminder of tasks you want to accomplish not only keeps you organized, but it also keeps you motivated. You want to accomplish the tasks on your list and feel the satisfaction of crossing them off! Writing things down also allows you to delegate your time appropriately. Thinking about which tasks may be harder or take more time can help you plan when to do them. For instance, some people prefer to knock off the more time-consuming tasks earlier in their day. Having a list in front of you allows you to make these decisions confidently and stay on schedule.
Don’t be afraid to take breaks! As much as senioritis can be a thing, burnout is a real thing too. Part of staying organized is recognizing and prioritizing downtime. Know when your mind needs a break. Giving your brain time to relax and recharge stimulates motivation and will help you stay on task.
Organizing your school work and responsibilities also helps organize your mind which allows you to physically and mentally prepare for life beyond high school! College is a whole new world. You have independence and freedom that you may not have had in high school. Learning how to keep yourself organized and how to plan your own time will make the transition into college more successful.
Not only will staying organized help you finish your senior year strong, but you will then take these habits into college. Regularly attending class, being on time for events, submitting your homework on time, and preparing for your tests are all good habits you must have for success in college. If you keep up with them now, you’ll carry them into college. They’ll also turn into life-long habits which puts you in a great position for living the life you want.
Are you feeling like senioritis is taking over your spring? Beth can help! Contact LaunchPad today for help with staying on track for starting college strong.
