Naveen Rimah
From the time we were 5 years old, maybe even younger, we are pushed into the school system. Whether we are encouraged by our caregivers or not, the expectations the American school system has on its youth is an unbearable burden to carry, and over time we are growing more and more aware of this weight on our shoulders. “Senioritis'' is a term used to describe the decrease in motivation and performance by students in their last year of high school, which is usually tied to seniors' need for independence and not valuing school.We need to recognize how the school system and mental health affect seniors’ academic performance. Increased trauma and mental health struggles help explain the decrease in test scores, attendance, and overall enthusiasm about school and learning.
My parents always encouraged me to question things. Whether someone tells me it's true, I always seek more information. But, when I entered elementary school, I was immediately shot down. Questions I wanted to ask were deemed “inappropriate” because they strayed off curriculum. Instead of pushing students to question authority and what we are being told is “the only way,” we are told to hush, sit down, hands clasped and listen. Because classrooms are so disengaging for students (of all ages), instead of listening we are being force fed information only to regurgitate it on standardized tests that cause more harm than good. Already by age 10, I was ready to leave school; my once questioning spirit was dampened by the system.
I thought middle school would be better. They advertised more freedom along with different classes and teachers. Little did I know that middle school would be where it got even harder. Constantly being pushed to achieve something that I was struggling with, pushing the importance of grades and getting into a good college on twelve year olds is unfair and has a negative impact on children. I came into middle school with childlike hope and was once let down again by the system. I left my middle school full of trauma, mental health problems, and no motivation to continue my schooling.
Through my parents' encouragement, the summer before high school I became more motivated and went into high school with a fresh mindset. I was scared, but not expecting anything bad to happen. I was completely wrong. Throughout my freshman year I experienced multiple sexual assualts and abusive situations within Central that directly influnced my accidemic preformance and my mental health. I expected my report to be taken seriously but instead I was coerced to sit face to face with my abuser in a “mediation session”. I expected him to be kicked off the team we were on together, be taken seriously and my situation urgent. I expected to be supported by my teachers, administrators and resource officer but instead I was shamed.
As a senior, I am still working through my own mental health battle with depression and PTSD from these events and anxiety. The school system has directly influenced all of these which correlates to my academic performance and attendance. Why would I want to show up to a building that houses my trauma? Now, it is not my intent to shame Central and their staff, but bring attention to how dire this situation is. There are countless students who are struggling with mental health issues that either stem from school and interactions in school, or in their out of school life. Senioritis is a misused and falsely defined term. It isn’t simply that we’re “not taking school seriously”, but that we are just so drained by battling the school system that should be supporting us. Seniors especially are in a difficult position of change and growth. Instead of shaming and pressuring us for our “best work,” understand that we are holding the weight of approximately thirteen years in this damaging school system. Things need to change if the school system truly wants all students to be motivated to learn.