Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. Every minute seems longer than the last as I sit in class. I can’t seem to focus, and there are doodles all over my notebook. It must be the end of the year.

At the start of the school year, many students find themselves feeling motivated and determined, but as the year progresses many students, including myself, find themselves slowing down. It can become harder to maintain your previous determination and ambition when you have a case of Spring Fever.

In the last few weeks of school, students find it harder than ever to sit in class and diligently pay attention. Students, however, need to remember what they have been working so hard for throughout the year. It doesn’t make much sense to throw away everything including good grades and academic perseverance in the last month of school.

Simply because summer is approaching does not mean that students can slack off and stop completing homework and assignments, something I always notice at the end of the year. Students need to keep in perspective that, while summer is coming, it isn’t here yet. Does it really make sense to work hard all year only to throw it all away because students can’t stay focused?

At the end of the school year, I also find students asking for extra credit from teachers because their grades have dropped. While it is admirable that students want to improve their grades, they wouldn’t have to ask for extra credit if they simply worked hard all year.

With this being said, however, I know how easy Spring Fever is to catch. I often find myself procrastinating more or day-dreaming about days off at the end of the year. Dr. Norman Rosenthal, clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School, studied the effects of Spring Fever. He noted that Spring Fever affects people differently, but some “can experience a mixed state that includes elements of the winter doldrums left behind such as a poor mood, sluggishness and more. When those symptoms are accompanied by increased energy, it can lead to irritability.”

Luckily, while Spring Fever may be easy to catch, I have also found techniques that offer a cure. One thing that I have found especially helpful is keeping a countdown with the number of days left in the school year. This helps me to stay focused on getting through “just a few more days” before school is out for the year.

So, while it’s fine to dream of summer beach days and relaxing in the sun, keep the last of your school work in perspective. Remember that just because you have “checked out” from the school year, doesn’t mean your grades have too. Continue working hard and don’t forget all of the effort it took to get this far.

Taylor Bynion is a Copy Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.org.