As the teacher begins the class, she looks out towards only a handful of students. A bystander may think that

it’s the day before a break and some students have left early, but this is not the case. It is only halfway through the week, and yet entire groups of desks sit empty.

Lots of students at NS have dealt with burnout or “senioritis” before, resulting in them not attending school.

Students have noticed an even larger drop in spirit and attendance.

A survey was taken at NS asking students if they get tired or burnt out throughout the school year and 85.7

percent of the students feel they do, and 42.2 percent of senior students feel that they have experienced senioritis at a level ten.

Senioritis is when you are sick of being in school and ready to move on. Another kind of senioritis is when you

are excited for what is next to come, and you are anxious for your plans after high school.

“Senioritis, to me, is when someone’s excited for what the future is going to be,” vice principal Bryan Holder

said. “You get excited for something to end, a chapter in your life to end, and you’re excited for what the new chapter is going to bring.”

Senioritis can be felt in many different ways. Some seniors are so excited to continue with the next chapter of

their lives, they forget to enjoy the moments they have right now.

“I have exciting things I want to do, and I’m just ready to leave,” senior Emma Wallace said. “But it also does

help me appreciate the moments where I’m like ‘Wow, I am going to miss this.’ It helps me remember that I actually need to focus and I need to love this while I’m in it.”

Students can feel burned out no matter what grade. Whether it be from sports, friend problems, other issues

or just sick of school, everyone experiences it at some point.

“Burnout is someone who has given their all, or what they felt like was their all, the entire time and never got

any reward or excitement out of what they were doing,” Holder said. “Now, they’re just tired of doing it.”

Many students agree that being involved in school activities like sports, drama, student government, music

and many others can keep the exhaustion from intensifying, especially when surrounded by friends.

“The whole social aspect of high school, just being able to have a place where you can go where you know

that you're going to see some of your friends… I think that's why sports help so much because it gives you a place where you can be with like-minded people,” senior Maxwell Cox said. “Obviously, I think I’m going to miss seeing my friends all the time.”

While school activities can sometimes help, they can also be tiring as you strive to operate at a higher level. 

“When you’re involved in something, you usually have to qualify for it,” Cox said.

Seniors, as well as other grades, get excited for their plans during the summer. While other grades’ plans may

not be as serious as going on a mission or starting college, they can be equally as exciting, and can give students something to work towards.

“It actually makes [burnout] better, so you have something to look forward to,” junior Kenzi Madsen said.

Many students agree that you can be ready for the school year to end and move on, but you can also be

prepared to miss it at the same time. While the school aspect of it, like homework and stressful classes are exhausting, the social aspect is what people will miss.

“I think for me, high school has been a lot about people and a lot about the friendships I’ve made,” Wallace

said. “So I will always cherish those moments and be happy for the time I have here, but I will also be sick of the school environment.”

Teachers, as well as students, can get just as burnt out.

“It is really hard having a teacher that’s burnt out, you personally as a student, don't have motivation to come

anymore because it's like, my teacher doesn’t care,” Wallace said.

Holder believes it is difficult for teachers to come to school and smile and try to remain positive even when

they are burnt out.

“Teachers feel like they have this responsibility to not let that show,” Holder said.

Most people think that getting involved in school activities and being present and “in the moment” makes

school feel less exhausting and helps people get less burnt out.