"Senioritis." Parents of seniors or older kids, what is this about?

[crim son]

My daughter is a senior and she has begun to skip school, which compels me to call the school and give some lame-ass excuse for her. I've decided that this morning is the last time I'll do it but I'm worried about what's going through her head. First, let me say that her grades are more than excellent: because of the college-level courses she's taking she actually has a GPA of 4.2. The school counselor told her that attendance doesn't show up on the transcript so that skipping isn't the worst sin in the world, etc.

A family friend thinks I should enroll her in some real college courses next semester. The thing is, she has filled her plate to the utmost and even now is always running trying to deal with all her obligations social and otherwise, so she is tired and stressed. What I'm wondering is, do you think college courses are a reasonable idea? The girl never stops trying to find ways to test herself, and in the absence of academic pressure (which she thrives on) I think maybe she's turning to other stuff which though meaningful, doesn't fulfill her. She just quit editing the school paper because they refused to allow her to write on "controversial" subjects including the presidential race. She has involved herself as a liason between the high school and the local Vets for Peace group, and they expect a LOT from her. She is also dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder, the symptoms of which appear to be unrelated to her frenzied activity, but I begin to wonder.

We are very attentive to her, medically/psychologically speaking so she is not lacking for support or treatment that way.

Is this normal? I mean, the distaste for school and negativity? I had an odd senior year so it cannot be compared. I think she may be something of a thrill-seekeer and high school is not providing her with the outlet it used to. Damn, she's ready to run the State (one of her dreams). Thoughts? And if not thoughts, vibes? She's such a strange, gifted girl and I don't want to do anything that might either limit or otherwise stunt her potential.

[nickgutierrez]

1. I remember Senioritis.

It's the idea that people lose focus on schoolwork after a certain amount of time in their Senior year, because they've already pretty much done everything they need to do to graduate. A certain amount of "taking her eye off of the ball" should probably be expected, especially if the counselor doesn't think it's a big deal.

[rcrush]

2. I did it

I didnt have as much going on as your daughter does but when I was a senior about 6 months in I was pretty much graduated so I was hardly there ever. Somehow it managed to not affect my GPA.

[crim son]

4. Okay, that's what I think.

She's totally ready to move on. Maybe we'll look at a single night class or something. I'd rather she do that than spend the evening hours with the boyfriend. (Oh, nothing against the boyfriend. Couldn't ask for better).

[crim son]

3. She actually has her doctor convinced that there's a problem.

Because the school counselor does not think so, I am assuming she's messing with them both. I know this: she is entirely capable of it. But thanks. That's what I think: the family friend freaks out if she displays any mood change whatsoever. He never had a daughter and though he means very well, he seems to get it wrong now and again.

[rcrush]

10. Be careful with that

I think some doctors just like to prescribe shit to teenagers just for the hell of it. Teenagers are supposed to be moody. WHen I was in high school I didnt like anyone there except for a few of my friends. High School sucks and it pisses you off so kids get moody. I was moody cause my stupid teachers kept telling my parents I was depressed so they put me on a bunch of pills. I'm still pissed about that.

[crim son]

11. Exactly!

There is rampant clinical depression in our family and I'm willing to acknowledge that K might be dealing with the same problem although, hell, her symptoms are radically different. But convincing her that I actually care and am trying to understand, rather than I am trying to prevent her from getting meds, is an issue. Oh, and she's on Prozac for OCD, at the dose I was prescribed when first diagnosed with clinical depression. :eyes:

[rcrush]

14. I dont know

I just dont trust doctors that like to prescribe pills to teenagers. I'm sure there are situations that justify it and I dont know if she needs them or not but the only thing they did to me was give me side effects. I told the doctor when he asked why I was upset "I dont want to be here" Oh you must be depressed heres some pills. I stopped taking that stuff right before I got out of school and started smoking pot and was sooooo glad I did.

[MsKandice01]

5. I went through the same thing..

I just got completely burned out on school by my senior year and lost interest. I was a good student also. It's very normal.

[crim son]

8. Thank you, MsKandice01.

You guys are making me feel better. I'd forward this thread to the family friend but he's a serious republican and anything a DUer thinks is highly suspect. :) :hi:

[kwassa]

6. Senioritis is completely normal, and happens to most students

Particularly after they have been accepted to colleges or completed the process of applications to colleges, they know that the further tests and grades don't matter very much. The bane of school teachers everywhere.

I would give your daughter a break. It sounds like she is such a high achiever, anyways, that there is little to worry about.

[crim son]

7. She hasn't officially been accepted yet, but she wants to stay

close to home and go to the same college where her father is a physics prof. She'll get in with no problem, and she's announced she will not fill out any more college applications. I did the same thing after being a foreign student in NZ for the latter half of my junior year and the first half of my senior: I wanted to stay home, and applied only to University of Oregon. Biggest mistake in my life! but I don't think K's choice is a mistake.

[kwassa]

9. well, that's good, and I wouldn't worry about it.

and if she changes her mind further down the road, she can always transfer to another college. Many students do. She sounds like she is happy to go to the college where her father teaches.

[marzipanni]

12. Does she have an interest in something not provided by school?

If she likes writing maybe she could get an after school job at the local newspaper or bookstore, for instance. Or learn more about government by working or volunteering at city/town hall.
My art teacher introduced me to an artist friend of his and I helped him prepare sculpture for bronze casting. I would have liked to take many of the classes, which are open to the public, at a local college's craft center- fabric printing, photography, jewelry making.
Here is an article I just found- googling the subject shows me that senior year could captivate more interest if it became a transition time that gives kids more opportunity to be independent, and more was expected of them, than the same old routine.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june06/senioritis_5-15.html#

[crim son]

15. I'm going to read the article, and I think you're on to something.

Thank you!

[Richardo]

13. Why are you making excuses for her?

Why SHOULD'NT she ditch if she knows you're going to cover for her?

That's not doing her any favors.


She should see that there are consequences to her actions.

[crim son]

16. My point is, there aren't consequences for her actions

beyond my late concern about her state of mind. She has in fact asked if she could do independent study at home, but they've discontinued that program. Instead she was advised by the school counselor to leave if she felt like it because she was obviously capable of managing her studies without attending every class. On the one hand, I dislike lying for her and won't do it any more but on the other, I've worked before and nothing has irritated me so much as the necessity of "pretending" to be busy when the day's work has been accomplished. Let me go home, or let me read! I think K is dealing with the same feelings and at the same time is aware that there are situations where attendance is mandatory: like her job, for instance.

[ZombieNixon]

17. Well, put it this way.

Even if you solve it now and she attends class religiously every day through the end of the year, graduates with a 5.0 GPA and gets into Harvard...it's going to all happen again in four years. I never had the senioritis problem in high school, and now that I'm about to graduate college, it is oh so much worse.

It's normal, I think, and wouldn't worry too much about it.

[Withywindle]

18. I think it's totally normal. (I'm not a parent but I remember what it was like to be her age)

Sounds to me like she's gifted, and high school is just no longer stimulating or challenging for her. Quitting the school paper sounds like a principled stand to me, something we'd respect an adult for doing. "Controversial subjects" like the presidential race? In high school? Jeez, this need to blandify the world for young people has got to be maddening for kids who are passionate about things and want to make a difference. The distaste for school and negativity sounds like a perfectly reasonable response in situations like that.

(Full disclosure: I was never a high school senior. Being a junior was tedious enough. I skipped my senior year and went to college - almost 1000 miles away from home - at 17. I wasn't really ready and kind of blew my first year - but another year stuck in a tiny town and not being challenged to grow wouldn't have made me any more ready, I don't think. No regrets, and it all turned out OK in the end.)

[kick-ass-bob]

19. Hell yeah, I remember that.

Very common. Usually starts 2nd semester, but high school is almost done, and there's not much left to do there. I skipped a shitload of physics classes my senior year.

Usually it is just a 'ready to get the rest of my life started' kinda thing.

I know other people who took college courses 2nd semester, so that may be a good plan. A math? A language? Depends on her interests.