Throughout my senior year, I’ve heard people talk about “senioritis.” I’ve heard them talk about that drop in motivation, the point where school starts to feel optional, and the way everything slows down. For most people, it’s expected, almost like a rite of passage.

     But my experience has been the opposite.

     If anything, my motivation didn’t disappear; it showed up late. My high school career didn’t start strong, and for a while, it felt like I was always trying to catch up. That part of my story, the rough beginning, is a different story on its own.

     I was in a pit of missing assignments and always missing school. I would go pushing people away, so they didn’t see my lack of motivation. This didn’t just show up in school, but the sport I grew up doing: taekwondo. My excuse for not going to class was that I was busy with school, or I was worried about getting another concussion. In reality, I just wanted to hide at home.

     But things didn’t stay that way. Over time, I started to make small changes that slowly added up. I began showing up more, turning in work more consistently, and holding myself a little more accountable each day. It wasn’t an instant switch but more like rebuilding piece by piece.

     Now my schedule is full of AP classes, and my grades are much better than they used to be. The work is harder, but I’ve learned how to actually face it instead of avoiding it. There are still stressful days, but they don’t stop me the way they used to. I’ve been free from self-harm for over two years, which is something I’m proud of, because it shows how much my mindset and habits have changed over time.

     Looking back, I can see how much things have changed. What once felt like I was stuck in a cycle that I couldn’t get out of has turned into something I’ve been able to improve. I’ve learned that progress doesn’t happen all at once but through small choices that build over time.