As the school year chugs along, a strange phenomenon will starts to take over the seniors here on campus. Its symptoms are a combination of exhaustion, loss of motivation, and daydreaming about college that hits even the hardest working students.

Senioritis isn’t new. For generations, high school seniors have joked about catching the “disease” that makes them allergic to homework. But what causes it? A Southern New Hampshire University article states that is mostly burnout; after three-and-a-half years of constant academic and extracurricular pressure, students finally see the finish line.

While senioritis may not affect everybody, eventually a majority or the class of 2026 will feel a form of it. It is easy to catch and hard to get rid of, says in an article by the National Association of College Admission Counseling (NACAC) on senioritis. Planning ahead, not obsessing and talking about it can be a great way to overcome incoming or already occurring senioritis. It is easy to get engulfed with college admissions office and to get tunnel vision into the future.

At the inevitable time of college decisions and stress, know that you are not alone and many other seniors are going through what you are. Talking about your stress, finding healthy outlets, and maintaining perspective can make a huge difference.

Senioritis can be a wave of emotions and frustrations, but just like any major wave, it will crash. You can either be on top of it, managing your burnout, or underneath it, feeling like you’re drowning. The worst thing you can do is try to fight it. Fighting against the wave will cause further burnout, and possibly utter exhaustion. The best thing your can do is ride the wave out, stay focused on what you can control, and look toward the brighter side that comes after.

Between college acceptances, final projects, and senior events like prom, it’s easy to see how priorities start too shift. Some seniors use the time to focus on friendships and savoring their last remaining moment at high school, others struggle with keeping their grades afloat just before college.

“It’s different for everyone,” says Chris Oswitt, a senior and Princeton commit, “but you definitely have to try and say on top of everything.”