The Sophomore Slump: Explored | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

The Sophomore Slump: Explored

Taking a look at why the Sophomore Slump exists and how to get out

10
The Sophomore Slump: Explored

Sophomore year: the year in which you’ve worn out the excitement that comes with the first year of being at college but you have yet to tap into the excitement that comes with being an upperclassman. You’ve found that you are taking on more responsibilities, whether it is by taking a larger number of classes, taking more difficult classes, or getting more involved outside of the classroom, it becomes pretty easy to get weighted down by the workload.

In case you have not already guessed it, I’m talking about the famed “sophomore slump;” the awkward discomfort that comes with trying to keep afloat with all you do, even though everything just seems to be less fun than it was a freshman.

If your freshman experience was anything like mine, it went by in an instant. Everything was so new and exciting, albeit occasionally stressful; all in all, the year was fun and eye-opening as you experienced having more freedom and responsibilities than ever before.

Upon entering sophomore year, you expected everything to be just as fun and exciting; however, the glow has seemingly dimmed, the sparkle has dulled, nothing seems to live up to just how great it was last year. You no longer get to experience everything for the first time, nor do you have the ability to fumble around in a confused blur without judgment on account of being a freshman. Having spent a year at the school, you no longer have school administrators constantly checking up on you and helping you through everything.

Obviously, these resources are still available to you, but if you’re anything like me, you almost feel as though you should not have to rely on these resources. After all, you’re a sophomore, so you should be more seasoned and knowledgeable about college life.

What’s worse than no longer reaping the benefits of being a freshman is not yet being able to reap the benefits of being an upperclassman. You have yet get into most of your upper-level classes of your major and are often still working to fulfill your general education requirements of classes that aren’t really related to your field of study. Therefore, it is easy for a disconnect of sorts to form between you and your major as you grow increasingly impatient to be more involved with your desired areas of study.

As college life settles into a routine, it is important to find ways to keep things exciting while you bide your time until you can begin to dive full-on into your major. Although it may at times be difficult to find time to add something new to your schedule, finding something new to do can work wonders for getting out of a rut of a routine.

Whether it is trying out a new club or student organization, reaching out to befriend new people, or even just walking around town to explore places that you have yet to see, it is important to give yourself new things to look forward to.

As the stress seems to continue piling on through your slump, try to keep in remind that no matter how severe your sophomore slump, it will pass. As you continue with your college education, you will be able to continue finding new things to get excited about and new things to experience for the first time; just continue working toward your end goal in your education and finding new ways to give yourself something to look forward to in your routine.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774440
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

College Life: As Told By Bob's Burgers

If there's anyone who understand the struggles of college, it's the Belcher family

694
Bob's Burgers

College is a time of gaining independence, exploring new things, and copious amounts of Netflix. If you're like me, you often find yourself laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of the situations you find yourself in. Here are ten times Bob's Burgers accurately captured college life.

1. What you're pretty sure your upstairs neighbors do at 3am every morning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Why Theater Kids Are the Greatest People Ever

Supportive and spontaneous human beings are the best.

542
Theater Kids

Throughout school, the theater department has always been my go-to place with go-to people when I need advice, a dance party, or just someone to listen to me vent.

You never know what's going to happen when you're dealing with theatre or what kind of characters you'll encounter. We have too much fun doing anything! One time in my senior year acting class, we spent an entire class period watching Bob's Burgers, and it was the greatest class period ever.

Keep Reading...Show less
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments