Everyone has heard of senioritis, defined as “a supposed affliction of students in their final year of high school or college, characterized by a decline in motivation or performance.” But few understand the more elusive junioritis, for which definitions may vary. In my case, I experienced much of the same symptoms of senioritis, but it was worse because I still had an entire year to go.
Nearing the end of my junior year, I was unbelievably stressed with all my finals. I was not yet used to this, as my sophomore year culminated with only a math final that was pretty much the easiest test we had the whole year. But now, I had to balance studying for all my subjects, many of which had troubled me the entire year.
I also found myself envying the seniors as they finished with their finals and graduated. I was happy for my friends, of course, but that feeling of truly being free and having nothing to do was something I had been yearning for throughout the entire year, and I would not be able to experience it until next year. Because of the pandemic restrictions and my summer workload, I would not be able to travel anywhere during summer and make it back in time to start school. I had wanted to leave the country for the past three years, and it looked like I would have to wait until I left for university (if I even got into university). I was in a place where I was just tired of everything and wanted to give up, which was very bad considering junior year was pretty much the most crucial year of my academic career so far. But the only thing I could do was push through and keep going.
This sluggish and autopilot mindset was not desirable, as the lack of motivation and try-hard would ultimately present itself in the work I completed. I hoped that summer break would help with this. For those taking the infamous International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, the summer of your junior year is not a vacation at all.
With multiple internal assessments to write and the 4,000-word extended essay to complete, there is not much time for relaxation on the beach. Even so, I was able to take a breather and spend some time with my friends while also working on the assignments I had to finish. This helped me regain motivation and discover new passions, including journalism. With more time to do university research, I was also able to formulate my goals more clearly and also get excited about writing applications (well, more so being accepted into a school). Summer allowed me to slow down and think about what I actually cared about and wanted to pursue in higher education.
I hope that if any other juniors are currently suffering from junioritis, they are also able to get over it the same way I am doing. Though it’s understandable to look at graduation like the light at the end of a dark tunnel, as I have previously done, your high school experience is something you should cherish. For many, it may be the last year you spend with your childhood friends or your hometown. Right now, it may seem like you have forever to go, but one year passes by quickly.
My advice is to figure out what you are passionate about in school and cherish your time with loved ones before going to university alone. And also, prepare for senioritis—coming soon!
Images: Pexels, Unsplash
