Sophomore year has come to a close and I am done with half of my time in college. I am officially a Junior, and while four years in high school dragged on forever, time in college is speeding by.

Everyone knows that Freshman year is filled with its trial and error ways of attempting to figure out how college life and independence works. By the end of the year, you're feeling pretty confident in your study habits, social life, and work. And that’s how most people see it; by the end of Freshman year you should be able to function on your own and have a group of friends that has become your family.

What no one talks about is how Sophomore year is filled with just as much change as Freshman year.

Sure, you know where all the buildings are, and maybe you have a few study hacks, but you meet new people, you get harder courses, you live somewhere else and you will need to adapt and continue to learn how to be on your own.

With Sophomore year, you have your head on straighter and the fear and novelty of the first year has worn off. You are more confident with figuring out the difficulties that come to you, but they still come as they did the year before and they probably will the next year as well.

The beginning of Sophomore year is much like the first semester of Freshman year; finding new friends and new habits to get through the year, getting homesick and wanting to head back to the comfort of home and family. But after a few months you find your place again and even though the difficulties still come you handle them with confidence.

And so to my Sophomore year, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for providing me with an amazing job that I love.

Thank you for letting me meet amazing new people.

Thank you for the sports games.

Thank you for helping me grow.

Thank you for challenging me.

Thank you for letting me realize that I can make it on my own.

Thank you for showing me how great I can make my college experience.

Thank you, and goodbye.

Now that I am half way through my college experience I want to say hello, Junior year! I am confident in what we will accomplish this coming year.

I have worked hard and have grown into my own individual, creating an ideal version of myself. I know that developing yourself is a life process, but I am confident in my progress so far, and hope as a Junior I continue to do so.

The next two years will be filled with friends both old and new, tough major classes, and experiences that I will take with me for the rest of my life.

Sophomore year, you helped me grow. Thank you and goodbye.

Junior year, hello, I cant wait to see what we accomplish together.