Senioritis--lack of motivation

**Jane** · 10-06-2002 07:34 PM

I'm asking for ideas on how to motivate myself. I never thought I'd need this, but life is funny like that.

I've got a horrid case of senioritis, even though it's only October. Where this summer I felt that I had rediscovered my love for learning, this fall, with its constant pressure of college and stress over grades has killed most of that desire to acquire knowledge.

Where for years I've been thinking about the wonder that will be college, I can't even get myself to fill out the damn application.

Pathetic, I know, but we've all experienced this at one time or another. What helped you get through an incapacitating-stress period?

**PowerManDL** · 10-06-2002 07:36 PM

I just quit showing up when it happened to me.

**Jane** · 10-06-2002 07:37 PM

Hmm. While that form of passive resistance may be one of many options, I'm looking more for something that resembles a swift kick in the ass.

**PowerManDL** · 10-06-2002 07:38 PM

I also started drinking. That's a bit more pro-active.

**G-B** · 10-06-2002 07:38 PM

Originally posted by Jane
What helped you get through a incapacitating-stress period?

Grammatical correction: What helped you get through an incapacitating-stress period?

**Jane** · 10-06-2002 07:39 PM

I always do that G-b! It stuck around since my days of pronouncing vegetable as Veggie-table.

Thanks!

**PowerManDL** · 10-06-2002 07:54 PM

I agree with Sinep

**the doc** · 10-06-2002 08:26 PM

**Gyno Rhino** · 10-06-2002 08:37 PM

I disagree, if you do it too much you will chafe and break skin. THAT can cause stress. Quite annoyingly painful.

**Alex.V** · 10-06-2002 08:38 PM

Poor jane. Starts a thread as a legitimate request for help, and look what you guys did to it.

**the doc** · 10-06-2002 08:39 PM

**the doc** · 10-06-2002 08:41 PM

ok well some advice... for myself heavy cannabis use seemed to help

most deadlines aren't until chhistmas right? I did most my apps over x-mas break

**JohnCollins** · 10-06-2002 08:54 PM

Jane, have you thought of taking a year off? Not just off, off, but off from school?

I was on the six-year plan myself, which required flunking out twice, working a positively horrid job for a while, then going back to school and really applying myself and ending up on the dean's list. Frankly, you sound LOTS more mature than I was at your age and than 90% of high school seniors today. However, the fact is, at 17 you still have a foot in two canoes, one in adolescence and one in adulthood. It's a precarious position.

Now, I'm not suggesting flipping burgers at McDonalds or anything like that (from your posts, you're way too smart for that, you'd probably hang yourself after about a week of that). But maybe working for a year at a YMCA camp as an outdoor activity counselor, doing volunteer work in some sort of research endeavor (basically slave labor for whatever interests you. . .paleontology, marine biology, working at a museum, helping in restoring art or buildings or something).
Maybe some "giving back" kind of work with church organizations providing outreach to the needy, or diffferently-abled people.

Personally, I think the majority of high school graduates should take one-two years to do something else before starting college. The extra time is at period where you're maturing fast. Some "real life" experiences help speed that maturation process a whole lot (despite the patronizing of your teachers and the media, most high shoolers haven't had any "real life experiences" to speak of). The time can also serve to motivate one to work harder and appreciate the college experience more. It did me, that's for sure. You might just need some time off.

Maybe you should just do something fun for a year. Like work at a ski resort. They make slave wages, but enough to live 4 people to a 2 bedroom apartment, buy food and do laundry, and the lift tickets on off days are free! Not a great career for raising a family, but good for some "decompression" time.

I'm not suggesting too strongly you take some time off, but I do strongly suggest you give it serious consideration. I'm not so sure 16 years of non-stop schooling then turning out a 22-year-old-with-a-sheepskin-who-thinks-they-actually-know-something-about-life is such a great system. It's not a crime to take a break between HS and college. And it's not a crime to graduate when you're 24 or 25 (or later for that matter). Hell, it's not a crime to not go to college. Some of the smartest damn people on the planet don't have the sheepskin, and a lot of folks with a diploma from "one of the better institutions of higher learning" can't find their ass with a map, a compass and a search warrant! An awful lot of them get through law school and into Congress for cryin' out loud! But I digress.

You, however, should go to college. Not because it makes you better than anyone else, but because you have such a sharp mind. At least throw the idea of taking some time off into the mix, though, while you wrestle with your motivational problem. It might help to know that your problem is common to probably 75% of your peers at the moment, too. Good luck!

JPC

**paco wilson** · 10-06-2002 08:58 PM

i suggest using foreign objects.

Seriously though, you can't over think it. Everyone has to go through the process of applying to schools and eciding where you want to go. I don't think there's ever a right choice, but part of growing up involves tackling obstacles, and making tough choices.

Good luck.

**Sinep** · 10-06-2002 09:03 PM

Belial, just trying to give the girl a "hand"

**G-B** · 10-06-2002 09:42 PM

Drugs and alcohol are not wise options.

**Spawn_X** · 10-06-2002 10:04 PM

Pfft.

I turned out ok didn't i? <neck muscle starts twitching from alcohol deprivation>

**kimpy225** · 10-07-2002 04:58 AM

*sigh.. jane..
haha
i dont even have that yet and i am lazier than you!
you should hang out with me more often and i can yell at you to do your work.

seriously though.
MAYBE.. maybe we should have a study thing where we ACTUALLY do work (and not just say "yea were working!") and then reward outselves by going out
then you can actually do work and have no excuses for it
do your work jane! think of the children!!

*rushes to finish forensic science notes*

**Orange357** · 10-07-2002 05:47 AM

Just talk to your parents...always did it for me.

**Paul Stagg** · 10-07-2002 07:31 AM

I had senioritis, too.

I just gave up. Colleges primarily use your grades thru Junior year, I had 1260 on my SAT, and knew I wasn't going to get financial aid or scholarships (not poor enough for financial aid, not good enough grades for scholarships.) I took a shot in the dark at a couple of schools I thought would be great to attend if I could get in and get some money.

I was accepted to one, declined by two, and got no money. So I went to state school.

My senior year grades never mattered - and while I slacked off, I didn't totally bomb my grades.

Interestingly, once the stress of worrying about grades and getting into school was off, I became MUCH more interested in learning something.

Try to focus on where you want to go to school, and just get it out of the way and done with. Then you can relax... and it doens't take all that long to get it done.

**Rock** · 10-07-2002 07:36 AM

Think about things in your life that makes you happy, just think about how great those things are, and how much it means to you and good moments with people you love, this will help you get motivated, think about how much you can do with a college degree and what you want do to, and how that will help you reach it.

**Allie** · 10-07-2002 07:38 AM

Listen to Paul. It's your senior year, colleges are ready to accept you so from this point on grades don't REALLY matter for that. Now if you want to make the top 10 in your class or something like that you do need to stay focused.

Is your lack of motivation from being to involved? Or not really being involved? Is it that you classes don't challange you? Maybe you need some new scenery... try taking a college class or two and see if you can get your school district to foot the bill. Just a few suggestions. for you

Hope you get your little sneior head out of the clouds and back into the books.

**Sayiajin Prince** · 10-07-2002 07:43 AM

i got senioritus also, damb i feel lazy as hell!
im tryna use my mom's strategy "everyday is a day closer to graduation"
works kinda well...
f*ck i need info on colleges...
and yea its hard to get off my ass and do work...im doing my HW right now thats due at 12pm soon....shyt i gotta get this done/coppied

**Maki Riddington** · 10-07-2002 09:00 AM

I'm with John. Take a year off, travel, see the world and you'll find your thrist for knowledge will be come unquenchable.

**Jilla82** · 10-07-2002 09:08 AM

I understand. Even though im a junior I cant seem to get back into the swing of things. I cant get myself to study or anything. In fact im supposed to be seeing a math tutor right now, but my ass is in the computer lab. oh well, I guess Ill get back on track sooner or later

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