This year, I am a sophomore. This means I know my way around campus and I can direct freshmen to classes, but it also means harder classes and higher expectations.
I am a neuroscience major on the pre-med tract, and the harsh reality of college never ceases to amaze me. My first year was blissful in the sense that I was discovering this new world of collegiate experiences, all with a grade of leniency to some extent.
Going into my second year, I was enthusiastic and ready to take charge of my established territory. Now with my second year comes significantly less leniency in every aspect, and greater responsibilities as the pre-med clock has started ticking.
This phenomenon has often been coined the “Sophomore Slump”. Heck, forget about the Freshman 15, it’s all about the struggle bus your sophomore year. Here’s how I know I’ve hit the “Sophomore Slump”:
The motivation to study is nearly nonexistent.
I love school, I do. But over the summer, I have managed to lose all sense of time management and study habits.
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Realizing your severe lack of time management skills.
I have a new job, new leadership positions and Organic Chemistry this semester, yet here I am taking BuzzFeed quizzes and watching food videos on Facebook.
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School seems to have gotten significantly harder than you last remember.
Every class has you questioning your academic abilities, and it seems nearly impossible that you made it out of freshman year alive if it was anything like this.
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Apartment life has gotten the best of you.
For most, dorm life is long gone and it’s all about off campus living. Unfortunately off campus living comes with the occasional $100+ receipt at HEB and learning to pay rent **sigh**.
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You have joined every organization and taken on every position under the sun.
With freshman nerves out of the way and seniority kicking in, you start to join more clubs and apply for more positions with this newfound excitement and outgoing attitude even though it's just more responsibility added to your plate.
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College student budgeting and extreme couponing have become a reality in your life.
Look, college ain't cheap but I sure can be. My roommates and I will hunt for free food and use coupons like it's nobody's business. Gotta save money for things that matter, right? And by things that matter, I mean online shopping and Pokey-O's.
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Cooking has become a norm for you despite a lack of any culinary intuition.
You are now responsible for using that kitchen thing in your apartment to cook your own food instead of dropping by a marvelous dining hall on campus. Count your blessings, freshmen.
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The clock is ticking for graduate school app requirements, and you’re freaking out.
As a pre-med, there are 10 million things you need to do in order to be “competitive” in the med school applicant pool. I think I’ve done 2 of the 10 million things, and I’m not getting any younger.
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You can no longer use the “I didn’t know, I’m a freshman” excuse anymore.
I mean, I doubt I was the only one that used this as an excuse not to talk to professors or for asking silly questions that I could’ve probably just googled.
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At the end of the day, the list of a college student’s daily struggle is going to be endless. But always remember your purpose here as a student and as a person on this Earth. There will be hardships, but there will be rewards. Every decision, every circumstance, and every challenge is shaping you into the best possible version of you there is. So keep your head up, and keep on fighting. I believe in you and I’m rooting for you! You’ve got this.
