As graduation gets closer, many seniors find themselves falling into a trap known as the ‘’senior slide,” often caused by lack of motivation at the end of high school that students feel. Although this happens every year, it is progressively getting worse.
According to senior Matthew Syme, the signs of a senior slide begin long before the students even reach their senior year. When students spend months thinking about an easier, carefree year that is waiting for them, they subconsciously check out early. “People talk about senior sliding when they’re juniors…Then once they actually become seniors, they really go into the senior sliding aspect of it and focus less on schoolwork,” Syme said.
Another factor that makes seniors less cautious about their final year of high school is the future and the stress that comes with it. Senior Conner McWhite believes that many students are more focused on the life that awaits them rather than their current grades. They’re worried about the next step and what they’re going to do for the rest of their lives, with college applications, jobs, and a sense of freedom that awaits them. “They’re worried about the next step and kind of what they’re going to do for the rest of their life. I think a lot of seniors have a lot on their mind, and high school wasn’t really a top priority… A lot of people are ready to leave the building,” McWhite said.
When asking these students about what could help seniors stay more engaged and focused on current classes, most students thought that stricter expectations could help their minds focus. What Syme pointed out as an example was his senior English class. Because that class has frequent quizzes and graduation requirements, it has helped him stay focused. “Then, you have to get a C+ in the class to graduate. So, maybe make core classes, you know, more demanding,” Syme said.
McWhite expresses that he thinks engagement is the key to helping seniors stay focused and goal-oriented in a class. The engagement piece makes students focus on the grade in the class rather than future plans. “Would probably be making sure that everyone’s staying engaged in class and teachers are putting out good work things. I think a lot of teachers do pretty well with making sure that they’re keeping us involved in the classroom,” McWhite said.