Senioritis – Connecting with Kids

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Senioritis

High school seniors everywhere suffer from a classic case of senioritis, a disease that seems to swarm over second semester seniors every spring.

“You start doing other things besides doing your work, and you feel like going out and watching movies,” explains seventeen-year-old Jill.

For second semester seniors, the lack of motivation for studies is often replaced by a motivation for something else, to carve out a lasting high school memory beyond having their head in a book.

“In some ways you do need to give them a little bit more room to do some of the things they feel they need to do with these last few months at home, these last few weeks of school,” says senior advisor Lasley Gober.

But if students’ grades fall too far, they do risk their college admissions. Every year high level colleges turn back a handful of students they had accepted. Experts say parents should strike a balance. Accept that their child’s grades may slide, but make it clear what the consequences are if they slide too far.

Gober explains, “That they have to go to summer school and that when they walk across the stage they won’t get a real diploma, they get a piece of paper that says `see you in summer school’.”

“You start doing other things besides doing your work, and you feel like going out and watching movies.”

– Jill, age 17

 

WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW

Spring is here! Flowers and trees are in bloom and the feeling of relaxing in the warm sun is on everyone’s mind. This is especially true for high school seniors. For those college-bound seniors, the time between their acceptance to college and graduation can be playtime. Worries about getting into their choice of schools are over and working hard to make the grades doesn’t seem necessary. Homework can start to slide; skipping classes and slacking off on responsibilities at home are sure signs of “senioritis”.

But, colleges are clueing in to this. There has been a marked increase in recent years among selective universities who are checking to see that students they have admitted are keeping up their grades. There is also the concern that these students are dropping necessary prep courses needed for college entry. Most colleges reserve the right to revoke admission and with colleges receiving far more applications than slots available, there is a need for concern.

What Are The Symptoms?

  • Anger at being asked to do things at home.
  • Inability to sit or stand still
  • Fighting with close friends and parents
  • Confusion — wanting to come across older but acting younger.
  • Being scared, but unable to say so.
  • Being emotional — from tears to smiles in minutes
  • Feeling that they don’t need your help but get upset when you don’t help.
  • General hostility

 

Sources: National Sleep Foundation; sleep researchers

Handling the Stress

Parents should know that this is a very difficult time in an adolescent’s life. They are realizing that they will be leaving home soon, as well as leaving friends and an established identity. They want to capture all the memorable moments from their high school years and this is important for them to do. Help them with the transition by giving them something tangible to hold onto. This could be a collection of photos, letters or audio tape from friends and family members that can serve as a reminder of their strengths as they set out on their own.

They need you as a trusted consultant more than ever before. They also need you to hold them to the limits and structures established for them. Your positive influences towards them will only enhance their self—esteem, making this time less stressful for them.

Resources

iVillage/Parents Place.com –

High Wired.com

USA Today

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