When the gun goes off, I sprint to get ahead. I strategize how I’ll maintain stamina throughout my race. And when I get to the end, I sprint to the finish.

I’ve always thought about high school like one of my three mile cross country races; getting through freshman year like it’s my first mile, sophomore and junior year like it’s my second, and senior year like it’s my last. And I’ve viewed the end stretch– the sprint in the final 400 meters– as the last months of high school. Crossing the finish line is the equivalent of graduating.

But recently, I’ve felt like I’ve already crossed the finish line. It’s the end of February. I’ve been accepted to all of my colleges. I have no motivation to get my homework done once I get home. I want to go home early every day. I don’t even have the energy to talk to my friends sometimes. This is all new to me. I used to be a school lover, and the old Penelope wouldn’t allow herself to skip assignments or study any less for tests. But after three and a half years of hard work, I’m exhausted. 

My cross country coach would always force us to run a cool-down after our races. My teammates and I always dreaded it and ran it slowly out of our exhaustion from putting our best forward during the race. I feel like I’m in an eternal cool-down right now as a senior, just barely getting along until May. 

If you feel a similar way, you’re definitely not alone. Lack of motivation, excessive absences, hopelessness, and laziness are all symptoms of senioritis. 

Senior Emilia Cohen shared her thoughts with me about senioritis.

“For me, someone that’s been in a lot of AP classes, this year, my load is so light that it just feels like I’m bored all the time, like no class is interesting to me or anything,” Cohen said. “So it’s just hard coming to school or feeling like you have a purpose, you know?”

Senior Zach Hempen feels a similar way.

“I’ve been not doing any work, being on my phone the most I’ve been throughout all my four years [at school],” Hempen said. “[I’m] just checked out because I already got accepted [to college]. So as long as I graduate, it’s whatever.”

Part of the pain of senioritis comes from not wanting to do the work. All my homework feels somewhat optional to me, but I feel obligated to get straight As and try my best as I’ve always have. But the other part is rooted in excitement for the future. I anxiously anticipate what’s to come in college. How can I stay present in class when I’m just dying to move on? I often find myself daydreaming during class of what my college life will look like a year from now.

So what can we do to fix this? To combat senioritis, I talked with Niles North psychologist Kimberly Bernardi.

“Obviously all seniors have a goal to graduate, but setting smaller goals in the interim, things that you can look forward to chop up the time between now and graduation,” Bernardi said. “So for example, we got spring break coming up in a month. Even if you’re not going anywhere exquisite, try to set up a couple things to look forward to, [such as] some outings with friends, just stuff to sort of break up the monotony of things.”

I’ve started a note in my phone of all the things I’m looking forward to, listing their dates alongside birthday parties, plans with friends, prom, graduation, etc. Knowing I have things to be excited about helps me get through the week.

Bernardi also suggests seniors pay close attention to habits and self-care, such as sleep (8-10 hours every night), keeping organized (using a calendar to track due dates), and staying active (spending time outside).

Senior Adam Fingerman has a different perspective when it comes to the idea of senioritis. Fingerman is planning on attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign next fall, and if there’s one factor to motivate seniors to do relatively well in their last semester, it’s the fear of rescinded offers. Though it’s rare, colleges are able to take back offers if students have failing grades.

“[Second semester has] motivated me to do well, because I’m scared to get [my offer] rescinded,” Fingerman said. “So if anything, I think I turned a new leaf this semester. I’m reaching out to teachers, staying after school. I really want to make sure I get to that college. So it’s had an inverse effect.”

Although the stress of copious amounts of homework and test anxiety can weigh down senior year, it’s important to recognize what this semester should be: a celebration of all the work we’ve put in to get here. I’m looking forward to finally spending this semester with friends and forming memories without the constant questions of junior year like Where am I going to college? or Am I doing enough? 

While the cool-down has always been my least favorite part of cross country, I understand its importance: Winding down after a big race and taking time to reflect on everything that just happened. Now that the race is over, we can enjoy our last moments of high school with less pressure than ever, indulge in learning just for the sake of it, and spend time with our friends.