Avoiding Senioritis: How to Finish the School Year Strong

Avoiding Senioritis: How to Finish the School Year Strong

Avoiding Senioritis: How to Finish the School Year Strong

By SOS4Students Coach Cat Crawford

Any marathon runner will tell you the hardest part of the race is the last 10 kilometers (or the last 6.2 miles). That’s when runners’ bodies and brains “hit the wall,” their legs feel like lead, and it takes everything they have to keep pushing to the finish line.

Avoiding Senioritis: How to Finish the School Year Strong

In terms of high school, that last 10k is senior year—in particular the weeks following spring break until graduation. At this crucial point, hitting the wall can have dire consequences for students if they aren’t able to dig deep and push to the finish line. Colleges are now known for rescinding scholarship offers and even admission offers from students whose grades suffer in the last semester of high school.

So how do students shake off the lead legs of senioritis?

Set Goals: Keep Eyes on the Finish Line

Seniors can start by setting SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) that can be applied to finish the year strong. For example, a SMART goal for a newly assigned essay in English might look like this: “I will complete the outline of my new English assignment by (time of day or due date of the outline).”

SMART goals work well for any task, including:

  • Completing and submitting current or late assignments (keeping up student GPAs)
  • Prepping for finals
  • Scheduling senior events

Prioritize & Organize: Structure Time, Reduce Stress

A good way to organize student tasks is in a prioritized to-do list, labeling items as “immediate,” “next in line,” and “last” (or however makes sense to the student to mark what comes first, next, etc.).

Helpful task organization tips include:

  • Looking through all classes and creating a checklist of assignments to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
  • Prioritizing assignments that will impact grades the most and getting those done first.

Ask for Help: Students Don’t Have to Do It Alone

If your student struggles to get started, enlist a friend or family member to work as a “body double.” Both don’t have to be working on the same thing, but just having someone next to you who is also in “work mode” can help create the focused energy students need to initiate on tasks that otherwise feel stressful or overwhelming.

When students feel overwhelmed by the workload and all of the things they need to keep track of in the last dash of senior year, they need to remember to connect with teachers, counselors, and/or special education case managers (if there is an IEP involved) and advocate for support with meeting deadlines and applying accommodations. This is great self-advocacy practice, and it shows teachers that the student is being pro-active about getting (or staying) on track.

Asking for help can be nerve-wracking. If necessary, students can get the help of a trusted adult or capable friend to help them craft emails or short scripts around what they want to say to teachers. Practicing advocating for support while in high school prepares students for being proactive about reaching out to college professors when they are struggling with assignments, which helps keep them from falling behind.

Finish Strong: You’ve Got This!

The final stretch of senior year (or semester) might feel like an uphill battle but students need remember how far they’ve already come. Just like a marathon runner draws on every ounce of determination to cross the finish line, students can power through this last leg with intention and support.

By setting clear goals, staying organized, and leaning on the people around them, students can build skills that will serve them well far beyond high school. Students need to keep their eyes on the finish line, take it one step at a time, and finish strong.

Need Extra Support? SOS 1:1 Coaching Can Help

Students who are feeling stuck and whose senioritis is hitting hard don’t have to push through it alone. SOS4Students offers personalized 1:1 executive function coaching to help students stay motivated, organized, and on track during this critical time. Whether it’s managing assignments, prepping for finals, or navigating stress, the experienced coaches at SOS4Students provide the structure and strategies students need to finish senior year with confidence. Schedule a Coaching Discovery Call or contact us today at (510) 531-4767 or  to discuss how we can support your student.