We’ve all heard that the second year of college is undoubtedly different than the first. Whether it’s from the excitement of living off campus, the distraction of now solid friend groups, or the comfort you feel walking around campus, there is definitely a new lack of motivation that can make sophomore year a tough time to buckle down and earn grades that meet the standard you’ve previously set for yourself. As a sophomore, you’re over your general fear of college classrooms; huge lecture halls are no longer intimidating, and you most likely can find some familiar faces. You’re no longer scared to raise your hand in class or meet with a professor during office hours, but now you feel like you have reason to. Well, I’m here to tell you I’m in the exact same place as any other struggling sophomore, and I’m ready to take a stand against the indubitable slump.

The first way I decided to combat my recently-developed laziness was by forcing myself to meet with all my professors privately at least one time during the semester. Last year I went to my professors’ office hours frequently which helped me to establish relationships with them. When I started this semester as a sophomore, I didn’t feel the need to initiate the same types of connections anymore. However, when I needed individual help in one of my classes, and I realized my teacher had no idea who I was other than my name, I knew I should have met with her sooner. When a professor knows you personally, and knows more than just your name and your grade in the class, they are more willing to put in effort to help you succeed. For that reason, amongst others, make sure to build relationships with as many professors as possible. After all, the more people you have to write grad-school letters of recommendation and references for internships, the better!

Another way I started to push myself when I began to slip through the cracks was by writing down everything I needed to do in my planner, and crossing the tasks off when they were completed. First of all, this helps me stay organized. Whenever I get a new assignment or I find out the date of an exam, I add it to the to-do list for the day. Plus, the feeling I get after crossing something off only makes me want to keep up the productivity. With this organization, I now have no excuse not to do the random assignments professors ask you to complete that aren’t on the syllabus.

Although it is extremely easy to lose sight of it, at the end of the day, we came to college to learn. Whether it’s your parents, you, or financial aid, someone is funding your education. Social lives are by all means an integral part of college, so balancing it with preparing for you future is crucial. Trust me, I’m right there with every sophomore gripping on to their grades that seem to be slipping away. But now, it’s time to take the reins and beat the slump!