I’ve discovered a cure for senioritis.
In a class like journalism, I am able to inflict stress on myself. It’s easy to stay motivated about things you actually want to do. I treat every assignment I do in journalism as a passion projects.
This has helped me combat the lack of motivation seniors feel as the short-wearing weather approaches and you can practically feel the weight of a diploma in your hand.
Seeing my peers around me become drained of any motivation or ambition while torturing themselves by taking the hardest classes offered in their last quarter of high school does not look like fun. Instead of doing homework, I’d rather stay up watching movies.
Instead of chaining myself to a desk and solving seemingly impossible mathematical equations, I’m watching 13 Oscar winning movies to write a series of reviews.
I have been pleasantly surprised by the academy’s picks this year. Flow made me bawl my eyes out far more than any exam cramming has. Anora was surprisingly artistic for a movie that dropped the f-bomb over 450 times. And though I carry personal disdain for Adrian Brody, especially after his self-indulgent rant of an Oscar speech, The Brutalist was one of my favorite movies I’ve watched all year.
I don’t know if I would have ever watched these movies, especially at the pace I watched them, if it weren’t for this class.
Despite me claiming I’ve found a cure, it doesn’t kill 100% of the senioritis germs. No, I haven’t come to school on time once this week. Yes, I’ve alternated between different frumpy sweatshirts all week. Yes, this column is a bit too short. But managing my stress by doing things I actually want to be doing has made this year enjoyable.
So whether your cure is a class like journalism, a really difficult AP class, crocheting granny squares, finally baking recipes that have been on your pinterest board for years, or reading my movie review and watching my recommendations, do it.
Senioritis gets us all, but creating your own definition of productivity will keep you from completely burning out this semester.
