Expectation Vs. Reality Of What I Wish I Knew Before Entering Sophomore Year

This year, I started my sophomore year of high school. I went into sophomore year thinking that it will be the same as my freshman year: easy-going, not a lot of homework and little effort needed to make good grades, but man, was I wrong. We're only two months into the school year, and it's already been stressful and hard. Here is what I didn't expect from sophomore year...

1. Workload

My expectations: I expected the work-load to be similar to last year's. Last year, I was taking all honors classes except for my foreign language and no AP classes. I am taking the same levels of classes this year, so I was expecting only an hour to an hour and half maximum for homework each night. I was also expecting to have relatively easy homework, not something that I would really need to think long and hard about.

My reality: They went easy on us during freshman year, so this year they came full force on us. I can have hours of homework a night, even if I do some at school. I sometimes struggle so much with my homework that I have to pause and take a break after only 30 minutes. It has also caused some trouble with my karate, since I've had to skip some classes because of homework.

2. Test taking

My expectations: Last year, I completed tests without a problem, and I would finish with at most half of the class time to spare. I thought this year would be the same way. I thought that I would feel confident about all the answers I wrote down, and I wouldn't stress before a test too much.

My reality: I've had a test in every single subject this past week and have been so stressed. Each test took me the entire period to finish, which is an hour long. I also went back multiple times to several questions I wasn't sure I answered correctly. I kept doubting myself. They were also a lot harder in general, and I really had to think to find the right answer.

3. Friendships

My expectations: Last year, I thought I had found my friend group, the people that would stick with me through the rest of high school years and beyond. I expected to keep these friends and not make that many new ones this year.

My reality: I made so many new friends this year, and I am so grateful for it. I am also not part of a specific "friend group," but I am friends with different people. Unfortunately, I lost some valuable friendships from last year, even though I really wanted to keep them, but these new friends of mine are the best. All the talk of new friend is great, but I also kept some valuable old ones.

This may not seem like a lot, and that is true, there is so much more that comes in to play when you are a sophomore in high school, but these are the three main things that my expectations have differentiated from my reality. Being a sophomore in high school, although it doesn't seem like the biggest transition, still is a great difference in the moment!