Senior Ditch Day has been a long-standing tradition since, well, since we've had seniors. Embraced universally by student-athletes, academics, and artists alike, this special day has become a rite of passage for teenagers everywhere.
In my early years as a teacher, I made futile and foolish attempts to try and "be the adult" and "hold seniors accountable for their attendance." That was a fool's errand of an inexperienced educator.
As the years passed and I gained some perspective and wisdom, I relented, only asking the seniors for a week's notice so I could use that day to talk about next year and announce the fall marching show. It turned out to be a win-win. Seniors got a free day and a tip of the hat (shako) for their four years of loyalty, and I got a chance to get the other students excited about the coming year.
But as all high school teachers know, Senior Ditch Day is really the denouncement of the more significant illness, "senioritis."
We've all experienced/enjoyed it ourselves. Whether it is our final year of high school, college, or the last part of a lengthy journey, we've all been there. You want it to end, and our students are no different. After twelve years of grinding it out, the final twelve weeks prove to be not when students are at their best but at their worst. Heck, Universities stop caring after the first semester of their senior year, so you can see where your students might be taking their queue.
This apathetic and abrupt bout of laziness isn't brought on by a time of year or specific calendar date. It's brought on by fatigue, frustration, and the desire to move on to something different.
Sound familiar?
Much like your teenage counterparts, after twelve grueling months, of teaching from a distance, through a screen, or in hybrid mode, it is likely many of you are experiencing your own version of senioritis.
Let's check.
Are you easily distracted (squirrel!)?
Do you have trouble focusing (another squirrel!)?
Do you have trouble finishing tasks and...
Do you struggle with small detials?
Are you going to work a few minutes later these days and leaving a few minutes early – like before the end of 7th period?
If you were an emoji, would you be "meh"?
(See what I did there? Detials... I am funny!)
Then you have a case of senioritis. Or, as medical professionals call it, Languishing. And yes, it is a medical diagnosis, and you may unknowingly suffer from it.
Just because you aren't depressed doesn't mean that you're not struggling, and just because you don't hate your job doesn't mean that you are all fired up to do it.
As Adam Grant from the New York Times puts it, "Languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness. It feels as if you're muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield. And it might be the dominant emotion of 2021."
How do we break the cycle? Experts recommend three key steps;
Find and finish small tasks.
Manage your workflow.
Create uninterrupted time.
Small tasks: The pandemic took away big things that impacted us in many ways; however, for many of us, it also took away our sense of control. Try and find a small project you are passionate about and focus on that. This will give you your sense of control back and, when completed, provide you with a victory you so desperately need.
Managing workflow: The average American checks email 74 times a day and switches tasks every 10 minutes (or, as I like to call it, Tuesday morning). This jumping from task to task keeps you from getting in the zone and making real progress. The lack of forward momentum heightens our angst and makes us feel unproductive. Break down big projects into smaller tasks you can accomplish in brief periods. Once you have started, don't stop until they are finished.
Uninterrupted time: Make time to be alone, quiet, and at peace. This allows you to clear your head, calm the spirit, and renew your energy level.
And in this way, maybe the student becomes the teacher.
Our 17-year-old counterparts have been telling us for years that when you feel this way, it's time for a ditch day! A time to manage your flow, focus on something you are passionate about, and have some uninterrupted time.
I'm not kidding either. I say next Friday, the day before Teacher Appreciation Week, you take the day off and celebrate the 12-month journey you have been on.
Make the plan, call the sub, and leave the Languish behind for at least one day.
Happy ditch day, everyone!
-Scott