I hate senioritis. I probably had it when I was in high school, but I went to school, ate lunch on my way to work, worked for an hour or two, and then came back to school for sports. Senioritis or not, at least I was busy.
For those who live under a rock, or those who get 100% in all classes, senioritis is defined by me as “the ability to stop working at some point during senior year, thus casting doubt about ability and drive, and cheapening everything academic up to the point of disease.” Yeah, that may be a bit of hyperbole, but I have seniors who have stopped working weeks ago. They have colleges who want them, scholarships have been given them, they show up to school almost every day, and yet–nothing. I realize that people grow out of this–almost immediately upon graduation–but, for some, it sticks with them their entire lives.
We had a scholarship meeting today and the committee decided to take a student’s name out of the running for one of the awards. There were other students vying for this award, students who were not suffering from that senior affliction going around. It’s no big deal, the scholarship wasn’t for much, but I wish the student could understand how easy that elimination was, especially when others were still trying. Because it matters.
I ask my students those questions all the time, just to hate myself.
Are you never going to read another book?
Are you just going to listen to music you know, or songs that Seacrest feeds you?
Are you never going to see another movie?
I feel like Chef Ramsey, on any of his shows, when he asks people if they’re done, if they’ve quit. Most of his questions get answered with a “No, Chef, I’m a fighter and still in the game.” My students never answer mine.
If anything, senior year matters the most. I will have AP kids, or former AP kids who read this, argue that they had senioritis, that they barely tried and their grades slipped during that last year. That’s great, and all, but you didn’t have 20% with eight weeks to go in REGULAR classes. There’s a difference. There’s always the kid who doesn’t fit the mold. But are you really done doing work of any kind, or moving forward emotionally, or seeking new things, at age 17 or 18? Maybe high school just makes all of this kind of tough.
I wrote yesterday of Loser Lunch Crews, both past and present, and received many replies and comments from former students. Looking at their names, all of them shared something besides my wife and/or me. They did stuff, and continue to do stuff, and have moved forward. The thing that struck me most is, whether they read what I write or not, I have current students who are privy to this site. All the reactions yesterday, though, were from teachers or former students. Coincidence? or, are my current students just not at that place in life yet where you’ve got things figured out (kind of)?
Looks like many of you figured it out, though. Sooner or later, most of us do.