POV: It’s your last semester as an undergraduate, and mentally you want to quit.
When I heard the term “senioritis,” I thought it was a phase only high school seniors go through. Well, I can confirm college seniors can also experience this societal phenomenon. I have a calendar, slowly counting the days before I’m officially a UCF alumnus. 86 more days sounds so close yet so far. I am still calculating how many assignments I can miss to receive an A in my classes.
Getting out of bed is like playing tug-a-war against the numerous alarms telling me to wake up. There are days when I act like I am no longer in school by skipping classes left and right. However, deep down, I know I can’t celebrate just yet. I still have six classes to complete, an undergraduate thesis to write, and a personal goal to accomplish: being the first in my family to pursue a medical degree.
I need to hang on tight. However, I’m having a hard time doing so.
Photo by Luke McKeown on Unsplash
Since summer 2018, I’ve been taking classes back to back. All gas, no breaks, one might say. However, maybe I should incorporate the breaks.
After all, this is my last semester to indulge in the undergraduate experience.
At first, finding the intrinsic motivation to finish my undergraduate career was an uphill battle. From denying that I was getting tired and coming to terms with not being sure what I would do post-graduation, college burnout was slowly creeping towards me.
Then I realized: I needed to find my balance. Instead of focusing only on school and my grades, I need to consider what makes me happy. I fixated so much on the future to where I was no longer living in the moment. Most importantly, I lost focus on who I am as an individual.
I decided to overcome senioritis by getting back in touch with my hobbies. For example, I enjoy going to local restaurants and trying new foods. However, being hyper-fixated on how well I perform in school, I haven’t put time aside to explore the different food Orlando offers.
This semester I decided to take time to explore local dining options by making a food blog on Instagram. Being able to take time away from academics not only allowed me to relax. I also decided to get back into working out consistently to release any stress. I could release any tension or anxiety I felt regarding school by working out.
Taking time away from academics allowed more clarity and ultimately decreased my burnout. Most importantly, it allowed me to stay on track in graduating. My goal for anyone experiencing burnout is to ask themselves, “Why?” and look into ways to decrease their burnout.
Senioritis comes in various forms. However, don’t let it rain on your parade. You are still young and still should be able to feel youthful.
Photo by Chris Porter on Unsplash
In recovering from stress and burnout, reflection is essential yet complicated. Looking at yourself in the mirror and realizing that maybe you need to get back in touch with reality takes strength.
Trust me, this process was not easy. Once I realized that I was losing myself in academia, it was a hard pill to swallow. However, once you identify you are going through college burnout, you are already taking the first step to overcome it. Accept that you have difficulty getting out of bed or feel unsure about the future. It’s okay because, more than likely, others are feeling the same.
You are not alone.
When I realized what I was feeling was normal, coming to terms that I was burnt out became much more manageable. I established closer relationships by expressing my burnout and uncertainty about the future.
Acceptance will allow you to recover and finish off your undergraduate experience strong. From acceptance, take a step back and draft some ideas or hobbies you want to pursue to take a break from school. Ultimately, school is not going anywhere, but you are only an undergraduate once.
With this sentiment, take time and attend your school’s football game. Spend time with your friends and family. Indulge in a sweet dessert. Celebrate the small victories.
School itself doesn’t and shouldn’t define you. School is only a small part of who you are.
You are almost at the finish line. Like the classic tale of the Tortoise and the Hare, slow and steady wins the race. You can have fun while shaping yourself to be the best version of yourself. Stay strong. You are almost there!