There is a sickness that plagues the halls of every high school nationwide annually. The symptoms include lethargy, apathy, and excessive laziness. These symptoms, without fail, arise upon the arrival back to school after spring break. Staff members have also been known to catch this dangerous flu; however, it is worst in the senior class. Senioritis, as it is known, is the most serious, and sometimes lethal, form of this illness.

         There is no known cure for this terrible disease, but tips to stay motivated and power through the last month and a half of this school year include the following:

•  Reward yourself- After a  long paper or even a small homework assignment, give yourself a quick reward before moving on to your next task.

• Stay organized- Organizing and prioritizing your commitments will avoid procrastination and keep you on top of your responsibilities.

• Find supportive friends- Towards the end of the year, everyone gets busier. It is important to find the right social group that will support you and help you stay positively motivated.

• Set attainable goals- Setting goals that are too far out of your reach will only upset you when you can not successfully meet them. If you have a large project or paper, divide it into small chunks so it is not as overwhelming.  Set small goals you can meet, and reward yourself when you do.

• Maintain a balance- If you focus all your attention on academic responsibilities and studying for upcoming finals, you will become worn out before finals even arrive. Be social and have fun, but still go to classes and complete your work.

          It is impossible to entirely avoid Senioritis, but it is possible to not be completely miserable. Find whatever works for you, and summer will be here before you know it!