As the semester moves along, there is one common theme among seniors – the quick realization that our time in college is coming to an end. As we reflect on the last four years, there are often joyous memories alongside those slight regrets of underclassman mistakes we made years ago.

On The Huntingtonian staff, four seniors prepare to spend their remaining couple weeks of the semester basking in the time left at HU.

Despite the moments we plan to enjoy, there is a struggle that hits each senior at one point in time in the last 15 weeks of their college career – senioritis. Dictionary.com defines this phenomenon as “a decline in motivation or academic performance that supposedly afflicts some seniors, especially in their last term.”

The struggle becomes real, motivation is lost and the future seems closer. Senior editors Selina Pohl, Chelsea Tyler, Tashnah Dixon and Janelle Wilcox give their best advice on how to enjoy your four years at HU and combat “senioritis.”

Selina Pohl: “Enjoy the moment. It’s one of the biggest struggles for me as a planner, but I remind myself daily that in just a few days, I won’t be here anymore. Mainly I focus on the relationships I have built here. The schooling has been amazing, but the relationships are life-lasting – if you put the effort into them.”

Chelsea Tyler: “Try to finish strong. It’s so easy to mentally tap out and skip ahead to graduation, professional careers, or grad school. But what we’re doing right now, today, that’s what matters. I don’t want to look back on my last semester and think, ‘Man, I wish I had tried harder and been more present with my friends.’ There are days I wake up and wish I was graduating the next day, and other days I’m struck by nostalgia and the desire to stay with my friends for one more year. But ultimately, change is coming and is inevitable, so try to focus on each day without getting too ahead of yourself.”

Tashnah T. Dixon: “Don’t forget to take care of yourself.  I think senioritis hits people in two main ways. You’re either pretty much checked out, just going through the motions and counting down the days until you’re gone, or you’re super stressed out and concerned with getting everything done, whether that be graduate or medical school applications, job applications, new living arrangements, trying to finish strong in your classes, etc.  My attitude fluctuates between both of those, and regardless of which state I’m in, it’s hard for me to remember to do the little things that I love. You’re about to complete a great lap in your life in a few weeks, and you have got to make sure that you are ready for that moment and beyond, not only with recommendations, good grades and internship hours, but also mentally, spiritually and physically. Go for a run when you have a little time, practice your art or your instrument, have a spa day, laugh a little — just do something for yourself.”

Janelle Wilcox: “Avoid going through the motions. First semester was a series of checklists for me and ‘senioritis’ came into play when I hit that wall of not wanting to perform anymore and just rest. There needs to be a balance between a responsibility to your commitments and the necessity to be kind to yourself. This year, I have learned that rest can be a good thing — even God says that it is good. Make sure that the focus is on eternal things instead of an unattainable list of expectations that you have made for your final year.”

This opinion reflects the views of the authors only.