Editor’s note: Zoey Stowe and Brianna Yu did not consent to being photographed.

Spring term at Oregon State University means sunshine and rain, and the time nature begins to bloom. 

As graduating seniors soak in the sunshine and prepare to leave their college nest, they may begin to feel a lack of motivation. 

They call it senioritis, diagnosed as a dip in motivation with any or all of the following symptoms: tardiness, absences, lower grades, a decline in motivation. 

Most commonly seen in seniors, senioritis tends to hit as their academic career approaches graduation.

Recently, graduating seniors were last seen flocking by the Beaver Store to pick up their graduation gear at the Grad Fair April 15–16.

“I was going into this year like, ‘Yes, I’m going to do so good, it’s my senior year,’” said Amanda McDowell, a fourth-year environmental science major. “I’ve done good, but the motivation that I had junior and sophomore year is just gone.” 

A fourth-year double majoring in history and women’s, gender and sexuality studies, Cecily Evonuk, recalled their senioritis hitting during this spring term.

“I’m just feeling a lot of burnout, (and it’s) kind of difficult getting stuff done,” Evonuk said. 

Many seniors found their grades to be a great motivator to keep pushing on. However, in many cases, senioritis still seeps in.

“The work still gets done, but at a slower pace, last minute,” McDowell said, “and maybe it’s not my best quality. ”

Senioritis struck during the fall term of senior year for Zoey Stowe who is majoring in biohealth sciences. For Stowe, senioritis has manifested as procrastination and skipping classes to prioritize a more relaxed energy. 

“I still do the work, but if I’m really tired that day, I’m going to sleep more,” Stowe said.

For Evonuk, along with a lack of incentive to do schoolwork, senioritis is tinged with a sense of uncertainty about the future seniors are stepping into. 

“I do have an impending sense of doom because (I am) just a very routine person and I’ve gotten in the routine of going to school, and so having that be up in the air is kind of scary,” Evonuk said. 

This sense of doom and uncertainty about the next step, can result in mixed emotions about graduating. On the one hand, it feels good to complete such a long program, but on the other, what’s next? 

“I’m not planning on going to grad school as of right now so it’s kind of like, ‘Wow, this is it,’” McDowell said. “This is the rest of my school, so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can and enjoy student perks.” 

A fourth-year majoring in digital communications, Kate Zaine’s senioritis consists of a lack of motivation that is blended with a sadness that her senior year is almost over.

“I’ve been in school for 16 years of my life, so it does feel a little paralyzing sometimes,” Zaine said.

For many seniors, senioritis is not the lack of motivation, but a detachment from the academic world, now that a bigger world is calling. 

Zaine intentionally planned her spring term with a lighter workload to not have to deal with a lot of academic work in her final term.

“There are a lot of projects and things I want to be doing outside of class and schoolwork,” Zaine said. 

Unlike others, civil engineering fourth-year Brianna Yu hasn’t begun to feel senioritis due to how much there is still to do. For Yu, the year doesn’t feel over quite yet. 

“Senior year is kind of your last chance and last opportunity to do all these fun things,” Yu said. “I’m excited to keep doing all (the fun things) while I still have the chance.”

The spring term is a goodbye letter and a reminder of all the bonds that were created and all the challenges that were overcome.

For Stowe, this looks like savoring the fun sides of the college community and experience.

“I think I’m prioritizing spending the last few minutes with my friends,” Stowe said, “because I’ve done the ‘dam’ school thing.”