By Lauren Matheny, Lifestyles Editor
While spring semester is drawing to a close, students often feel the need for a productivity boost as focus lags.
The end of the school year can bring on bouts of anxiety, fatigue, and procrastination just when students need focus and energy. For seniors, this lack of drive can be characterized as “senioritis.”
NACAC, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, has defined senioritis as featuring “a lack of studying, repeated absences, and a generally dismissive attitude.” While this definition focuses on seniors, the general lack of enthusiasm at the end of the school year pertains to all college students.
While the temptation to slack off may be great, the consequences are also potentially dire. Here are some tips to help you end the year on a high note.
First, remember that the way you leave the classroom will be the last memory professors have of you over the summer. The end of the school year is the time to show how much effort you can continue to put into the class. Disrespectful behavior at the end of the school year could set students off to a poor start for the Fall Semester.
Simply remembering basic courtesies can go a long way: “please” and “thank you’s,” listening skills, and the other basic kindness lessons learned in kindergarten. Your teachers will thank you, and remember you, for it.
Next, don’t use the end of the semester as a time to work out a new routine. If you have found a method to the madness of classes, activities, and life outside of school, stick with it. While the first instinct may be to have all-nighters and sleep-ins with finals looming, it will serve your body and mind better to plan ahead and keep to a regular schedule.
A study by the American Psychology Association determined that adolescents are biologically driven to need more sleep than fully developed adults. A telling study from Brown University found that amongst 3,000 upper high school level students, students who reported earning C’s, D’s, and F’s were getting 25 minutes less sleep and going to bed 40 minutes later than their fellow students earning A’s and B’s. Even an extra half an hour of sleep could mean the difference between passing or failing an exam.
This dramatic idea leads to the next tip: planning ahead is essential in the final weeks of the semester. Many students find events and projects creeping up on them just before finals. This rush of items on a to-do list often overwhelms students just when they need to focus in on preparing for exams.
To stop this rush of panic, begin mapping out your final weeks now. An organized student planner, complete with due dates and schedules for studying, can go a long way to peace of mind at the end of the school year.
Finally, two points which go hand in hand: talk about the pressure, and remember to live in the now. The stress of these final few weeks can take a toll on students, physically and mentally. Remember to discuss your fears and your triumphs with friends and family.
Additionally, as we race headlong towards summer, remember to take time to stop and recognize the beauty of the school year. The most basic way to do this is to take time out from studying to have fun with friends, whether it take the form of a quick snack break or a movie night.
While the end of the school year can be stressful, it’s also a time to celebrate the accomplishments of the year, and to focus in on finishing strong.
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