It’s a word constructed in imitation of a disease, but everyone understands that senioritis is not a physical malady. It’s an expected step in the psychological transition from childhood to young adulthood in North American culture.
Senioritis is a condition experienced by seniors in American high schools, especially prominent in the spring semester. The symptoms of the condition include a sense of detachment from school activities that were once enjoyed, a predilection for skipping classes, a tendency to go out late at night without asking permission, and a focus on the future rather than the present. The feeling that underlies these behaviors is the sense that high school is no longer relevant.
There’s nothing wrong with somebody exhibiting signs of senioritis. It’s just that they have realized that their identities no longer fit their social context. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but one that will soon be alleviated, upon entry into “the real world”.
