By: J M Hummel

There is a syndrome that afflicts 9 out of 10 seniors in high school. There are almost no symptoms before it takes hold, and it is caused by no bug or chemical agent. It is a condition known only as Senioritis; if caught early the “illness” can be curbed through excessive studying and a drive to perform. However, if left to progress into the mind of a common senior, it can be quite detrimental to one’s health not to mention the GPA of the afflicted.  A classic slacker may show very little signs of senioritis and his/her GPA may not drop as much as say an honors student who has been a workaholic for his or her four years of high school.
Senioritis can strike within different areas of the year; usually the outbreak will occur between the months of April and June. If the condition is left untreated for more than a few weeks the chances of recovery becomes slimmer. Contrary to popular belief there is a milder strain of the disease known as Junioritis. People who contract Junioritis tend to have a lower GPA their Junior year, but tend to have a more mild case of Senioritis their senior year. According to Senior Dan Estrada, an individual who has had multiple cases of this warm weather condition, he defines the condition as “slacking off.” According to Estrada “once you find out you’re in college, there is no point to high school.”  His advice for prevention is to “remember you have to do your work unless you want to be stuck here another year.” And to those of you that tend to be underachievers, “pass English, health, and gym.”  To identify an advanced case consider the following symptoms:

 
• Excessive complaining about being in school
• Copying homework from others
• Refusing to attend classes
• Missing school on lab days
• Signing out early

The recommended treatment is to take an hour daily to study. This can curb the “slacker attitude” and create a wake-up-call for the student to increase his or her current GPA.  In the words of Mrs. Nascimento do not act like “you have one foot out the door.”