Senior year of college is often viewed as the most significant. From looking for internships and future career opportunities, senior seminars, to balancing school work, being an athlete senior year can be challenging. Not only do you have much to keep up with, but at the end of the season you have to say goodbye to the sports facility, team members, coaches, and staff members that have shaped you and seen you grow.
During senior year, many students find that it might be tougher to focus on their school work and responsibilities at hand. Senioritis is experiencing a decline of motivation in your performance due to being in the last year of schooling and looking ahead. All sports are different and all seniors have different stories, but when it comes down to it, how does senioritis affect athletes?
Senior business administration major, Kelly Guarino, is an outside hitter for Cabrini’s volleyball team and her senior year has required her to balance schoolwork, work, volleyball and a social life. As a senior, Guarino began thinking about pursuing a career in the business field which pushed her to study more and get her work done during the season.
“I never took my final season for granted…I stayed motivated to make the end of my career the best one yet,” Guarino said.
Coaches are constantly checking players grades to make sure they are in good academic standing to continue playing the sport.
“Playing a fall sport helped me balance my schoolwork, work and social life,” Guarino said.
Guarino feels as though senioritis did not affect her as much in season as it did after season. Volleyball is over in the spring, which is when senioritis kicks in for Guarino, as graduation quickly approaches.
Kane McGovern is a senior shooting guard for Cabrini’s men’s basketball team. Early on in McGoverns senior year, he had a foot injury which pushed him to go harder.
“This season I was really pushed by my injury. Getting injured stunk, but it gave me great motivation to get back on the court as fast as I can,” McGovern said.
He continued to work hard so he could get back in the game. McGovern, learned that something you love can be taken away from you so easily.
“It taught me to play hard every practice and game because you never know when it can all be taken away from you.”
When it comes to playing ball, McGovern definitely doesn’t have the itis, but off the court school work is a hassle. This does not stop him from getting everything that needs to be done.
“I have started to dread doing school work, but I never would dread going to practice because I know I only had a limited amount remaining.”
He has done a good job staying on top of his work and cherishes every moment.
“From the early morning lifts and practices to the biggest and best games of the year. Enjoy all the little moments as well as the big moments, it goes by way too fast,” McGovern said.
“Senioritis is definitely a thing. When I know I am already furthering my education its hard to focus because it sometimes feels pointless,” senior social work major Jennifer Robinson said.
Robinson is an attacker on the women’s lacrosse team at Cabrini. Robinson plans on attending grad school after completing her undergraduate which pushes her to do well in academics and lacrosse. The women’s lacrosse team has a consistent schedule that Robinson has to keep up with.
“I know that I have to get certain work done before practice or a game,” Robinson said.
Due to field work in her major, Robinson has to go off campus twice a week which can be time challenging.
“Finding time for field placement, lacrosse and other classes can be hard,” Robinson said.
Through all this she still tries her best to manage everything and make it work. Robinson wishes to tell rising seniors, “enjoy the last year and push through both your academics and your sport because it is worth it” Robinson said.
“Keep up your school work but also make sure you have fun with your friends because you are never going to get this again,” Kelly Guarino said.
