Freshman year of college is undoubtedly an important transition period. Upon being introduced to college life, everything seems new and exciting. Moving out, making new friends, and having experiences that you will remember for a lifetime are all perks of your freshmen year. However, looking back at my freshmen experience, I am glad to say that time in my life is now over. Sure, freshman year is great, but as a sophomore I have been able to grow in different ways and truly find a sense of self. Looking back, there are some things that I would change about my freshman year but instead of dwell on those, I'll explain why sophomore year is even better than freshman year.
1. No dorms.
Yes, living in a dorm seems very exciting at first but trust me, you will get sick of it. There are certain benefits of dorm life, but they will eventually fade and you will be counting down the days until you can move out. Personally, the restrooms were the worst part of dorm life since my dorm had communal restrooms. After moving out, I wondered how I survived the nightmare of overflowing toilets and constantly cold showers. The thing about dorm life is that it's meant to ease you into adult life. There aren't really responsibilities for cooking, cleaning, etc. but they do allow you to adjust to college life. After you've become adjusted, you will realize you have outgrown your tiny dorm and move into bigger and better living spaces.
2. You can have a car
Most freshmen don't have a car at school, since parking is limited and parking passes are nearly impossible to acquire. Sophomore year, the chances are that you will live somewhere that is more parking-friendly. Having a car makes life so much easier and allows for you to have more freedom to do what you want. Also you won't have to be picked up by your parents whenever you come home.
3. You have a solid friend group
Freshman year is tough because a lot of people try to make friends as quickly as possible, but sometimes rushing into friendships means that they won't necessarily work out. After your freshman year, it will become apparent who your true friends are and you won't have the anxiety about meeting people that comes with being a freshman.
4. Knowing the campus
IU is a pretty big campus, and freshman year I got lost many times just like most people. Coming back sophomore year, it was so nice to know where all of my classes were without having to walk the routes beforehand. Also, I would be lying if I said it wasn't gratifying to watch the freshmen struggle on the first day of classes.
The downside to sophomore year? When it's over you're halfway to graduation.
