The Sophomore Slump is something we all will encounter in some severity, whether it be big or small. Symptoms of the sophomore slump include, but are not limited to: headaches, fatigue, confusion, unwillingness to achieve, pulling your hair out, emotional breakdowns, and thoughts of packing your bags and leaving college to become an exotic dancer.
Okay. Maybe not the last one. But honestly, why DO we encounter it? Why is it SO stressful? In my opinion, the Sophomore Slump is broken down into three categories. And chances are, you've had to endure each of the following to some extent:
Category One:
Making Your Final Major/Minor Decision
I knew what my major was going to be before I even went to college, so that was a huge weight off of my shoulders. Psychology just seemed natural to me and I never really doubted it. I have some friends, on the other hand, that struggled very hard to make their final decision on a major. Some haven't even chosen them at all yet. Sophomore year is definitely not the last year you can change your mind about your major or minor, but it's the year where you start figuring out what you like and what you think you're good at. And it's definitely the year where people like your parents, advisers, and friends really try to drill it out of you as far as what you're doing with your time at college. Sometimes kids realize they have no idea what they want their major to be or what they have a knack for, which can send a lot of them into a spiraling "quarter-life crisis". Self-doubt is never a fun thing to endure, and this huge life decision can definitely trigger a lot of it and send a person into a slump.
Category Two:
Choosing Your Career Path
As if choosing a major wasn't narrowing it down enough, now you have to choose a career path. What are you gonna do with that psychology degree? What do you plan on even using that history minor for? Are you sure elementary education was even the right choice for you? When trying to figure out a career path, a whole bunch of questions similar to the above listed pop into your head. I am almost halfway through my junior year and I still do not know exactly what I want to do with my life yet. Not having a plan is probably one of the most terrifying and stressful feelings to have as a college student. In the two and a half years I've been at college I have gone from wanting to be an industrial organizational psychologist, to a neuropsychologist, to a psychiatrist, to a forensic psychologist, to a prison counselor, and then finally I settled on wanting to be a therapist for trauma victims. And let's get real, my last decision is probably going to change in some way, shape, or form. Just around three years ago I had to ask if I could use the restroom and now I'm supposed to decide what I want to do with the entire rest of my life? If that doesn't send you into a spiraling black hole of anxiety, then I don't know what does.
Category Three:
Friend Group Solidification
Out of all of the categories, I believe this is the one that is the most overlooked, but yet the most influential in why someone experiences the slump. My freshman year of college I was swimming in new friendships. I had new friends from every class. I had new friends in every activity. I had new friends in my dorm. Everything was bright and shiny and everyone was friends with everyone. But once your Sophomore year hits, you realize that you cannot simply be good friends with every single person you come into contact with on campus. You separate your acquaintances from your friends and you separate your friends from your best friends. You realize that some people were only your good friends because you saw them every Tuesday and Thursday. Because once the summer after your first year hits, you barely even like their Instagram posts, let alone text them. It's not wrong. It's just life. But that is not to say that it doesn't take a toll on your emotions and make you hit a slump. Solidifying your friend group is hard. It consists of awkwardly forming new friendships and also awkwardly breaking off others that you know in your heart are going nowhere.Much like choosing a career that is going to last the rest of your life, choosing a new relationship that could potentially last the rest of your life is also very hard on your emotions as well.
All in all, the Sophomore Slump is something you can and will overcome. It knocks you down and is a total buzzkill sometimes, but everyone eventually gets through it. Out of all three categories, there is one overlapping theme: not knowing. As humans, it is uncomfortable to not have a plan. We shape our lives around schedules, appointments, time, and outlining, and we oftentimes forget that it is okay to not have any idea what you are doing. It is okay to hit a slump your Sophomore year. It is okay to hit a slump your Junior year, your Senior year, or even grad school, because in the end, it will work itself out.
