The "Sophomore Slump" is a very commonly known phrase used to describe the ill feelings towards a student's second year of college. As a freshman, I didn't think that it existed, but boy, was I wrong. The Slump definitely hit me like a train, but there are a few tips and tricks that I learned (the hard way) and am willing to share with any rising second years, or any year for that matter.
"Easy A" Classes
College is pretty tough. Balancing time consuming extracurriculars, a social butterfly life, and even an internship or job can take a toll on the good ol' GPA. With weed-out classes coming up, everyone wants to fit in that easy, breezy, beautifully effortless elective class. But be careful... even the "Easy A" class requires a little time, or else that A will easily drop to a B. And make sure if you're taking advice from the girl with a 4.0 that you use another reference to determine the rigor of the class.
SCAMS
Scam artists favor targeting college students because we're all basically puppies in a dawg-eat-dawg world. A pretty good amount of us still rely on mom and dad to pay our taxes and support us financially, despite being over the age of 18 and legal adults. Scam artists will spoof government telephone numbers, impersonate government officials, and try to scare you into giving them huge chunks of your money. Do not fall for it. Call your parents, call the police, and make sure you keep yourself informed of what is real and what is a scam.
Chances are, you're probably not going to college for free. So yes, your GPA is just a number, a number that shouldn't define you. But it's also a number that can earn you a good amount of scholarships, as well as land you a pretty sweet job right after graduation. So keep that in mind when you're snoozing during that 9:05 A.M. class or going out for $1 wells the Thursday before a midterm.
Keep Your Valuables Close
No matter where you are, or what state you're in (aka intoxication), make sure your important belongings are as near to you as they are dear. Phones, wallets, keys, anything. If they're costly to replace, keep them close. Also, even if you're parked in the safest of places, keep all backpacks, purses, and electronics in the trunk or hidden from sight! Don't give anyone the incentive to break into your car.
Keep Your Friends Closer
Freshman year is probably the easiest year to make new friends and connections with people you would normally never think of talking to. Everyone is cooped up in sky-high buildings all settled in within about a 1.5 mile radius. Sophomore year gets a little different. If you don't find yourself living in a Greek house with 70 of your brothers or sisters, you're probably going to have to drive around town to hang out with people other than your roommates. This isn't too bad of course, but you also begin to realize who is worth making a real effort to spend time with.
Love
Last, but definitely not least... love. It's there sometimes, but it can disappear pretty quickly. At the beginning of sophomore year, you might be head over heels for that one kid that looked cute in your English class. At the end of first semester you could be in a heartbroken abyss where it seems like there's no shining light or hint of hope that you'll get over him or her. And mid-second semester, you could be in a loving relationship with someone that you think you're going to marry. No matter where you are in the spectrum of looove, make sure you're still loving yourself. Not like the J. Biebs song. Care for your body, have confidence in your future, and be a little selfish. Do what you want. Right now is the best time to concentrate on what you want for yourself, so do it and don't look back.
