What "sophomore slump"? Sophomore year, in my opinion, was one of the most transformational years of my life, and from it, I have taken away several bits of wisdom -- both mundane and highly important -- that will serve me well as I continue to make my way along my life's path. Let's take a look at some of these helpful tidbits, as summer draws to a close and we all look forward to junior year!
1. It’s still totally okay not to know what you want to do with your life.
Your next two years of college. Your major. Your hands when you’re talking to the nice young man who is looking over your résumé in the career services office. You’ve got time, and you’re going to be totally A-OK, I pinky promise you that. You're a young woman and by George, you're about to kick ass no matter how many friends you have on LinkedIn or how many B-'s you've made in your declared major.
2. Avo(cado) toast is, in fact, its own food group and can be eaten at any hour of the day.
If you didn’t jump on the basic bitch trend train during your second year of college, you’re behind the times, honey. Pop a piece of (gluten-free) bread in the toaster, mash up a perfect ‘cado, and liberally sprinkle salt, pepper, and maybe even some cayenne onto that little guy. And presto! Bon appétit!
3. It’s actually preferable that you not be the first girl to arrive at the party that night.
Your freshman year, you obviously got away with being a member of that first, spunky, fun-loving girl squad off the drunk bus, out of the Uber, or from the taxi cab. But once you hit sophomore year, you knew it was time to take a step back and let the new freshmen ladies to take the wheel and carry on your legacy of beers chugged, songs queued, and older males avoided. By now, you tear up the town on your own time, and you can bet your bottom dollar that the party don’t start till ya walk in.
4. Your best friends are yours for life, and they’re for keeps — through the ugly, the pretty, the good, the bad, etc.
This past year, you either lived in a dorm, apartment, or sorority house surrounded by your girls, and you undoubtedly learned the hard way that college friends are some of the best and most supportive friends you’ll ever have. You’ve seen and have, yourself, been worse than you imagined was possible, but you and your lady friends survived and are so much stronger for it. After this year, the family-oriented girl deep down within you has got a big list of girlies-turned-bridesmaids that you’ll store away for a few more years until that big day finally rolls around.
5. It definitely was about time (and it totally paid off) to visit office hours at least once a week.
You probably boosted your GPA by at least a few tenths-of-a-point this year after you figured out that you could network your way along the ladder of academic success where your brains failed you before. Showing your professors respect, putting extra time into your studies, and making it look like you’re genuinely intrigued by even the most boring of subjects have gone and will go a long way.
