The hallways always feel different around this time of the year. Seniors walk a little slower, talk a little louder, and are always counting down the days till they graduate. Even though graduation is around the corner, many seniors find it challenging to stay motivated. 

The most challenging aspect for seniors is staying focused every day. Homework, tests, senior events, and extracurricular activities can get tiring. Many seniors become less motivated.

“The workload is the hardest thing about staying motivated because it can become overwhelming and really never stops,” senior Leah Gasper said. 

However, seniors still find reasons to keep going; some say their plans help them stay focused, while others say family or friends push them to keep going.

“I’m about to go into the real world and start my career. By me being excited and just ready to go into the medical field gives me a reminder to keep going even when I feel unmotivated,” Gasper said.

School feels different for seniors right now, being in the last 4 months. Some say it’s stressful, while others say it’s calm, but classes may feel a little longer, more boring, and less interesting. Many students feel like they are getting senioritis, and others feel like they’ve already had it.

“Right now I feel school is chill, I don’t have much work in class,” senior Anette Andrade said. “I don’t feel senioritis anymore;  I felt it more last year when I was trying to get everything done.” 

Even when they mentally check out, they still try their best to keep going because they know finishing strong matters, no matter how stressful, tiring, and emotional it can be.

 “Just knowing it’s my last year makes me take advantage of everything and enjoy the moments with my friends because I won’t get to be with them anymore,” Andrade said. 

Senior year is a mix of stress, memories, and motivation. Even when it feels hard, seniors are still showing up, still trying, and getting closer to the finish line every day. 

“Some advice that I would give to my Seniors is to take every chance you can to love people,” English teacher, Mrs. Courtney Clements, said. “Also, take any opportunity to try new things that may interest you. Take a cooking class, try aerial yoga, volunteer at a dog shelter, and take a trip somewhere unique. These are your last moments to think of yourself as an individual. Soon, you will join the world as a cog in the machine, and that comes with a lot of expectations and weight. Be free and untied for a minute and enjoy exploring different sides of yourself. Follow God, and you will end up in your right place.”