Being a sophomore in college is like being a sophomore in high school all over again. In high school, being a sophomore meant you weren’t a loser-freshman anymore, but you weren’t an upperclassman. Sophomore year of college is just as awkward.
Going into my sophomore year in August, I knew all the ins and outs of University life. I knew where the good places to hang out were and which dining hall food to stay far away from. I knew how to sign up for football and basketball tickets and which websites sell the cheapest textbooks. However, with knowing all of the ins and outs comes a problem: people expect you to know everything.
There is a moment I am sure all upperclassmen have experienced–the moment when you tell a freshman you’re older and they proceed to contact you whenever they have a question about anything. I don’t know where every building is on campus and I really don’t know how to get to every single place in Raleigh. Just because I’m not a freshman doesn’t mean I am Ms. N.C . State.
You have to know everything about State because if you don’t, you’re essentially a freshman again. Not only do you have to know everything about the University, you have to know everything about yourself. You’re expected to know what you’re majoring in, what you’re doing this summer, and whether you’re taking an easy course load or the dreaded 18 hour course load. But, let’s be honest: nobody really knows what they’re doing when they’re 19 years old.
Sophomore year is also when time begins to disappear through some kind of black hole. You joined a few clubs when you were a freshman and as a sophomore, you have solidified your role by taking on more responsibility. You start taking harder classes and more hours. You have a part-time job and you still try to keep up with American Idol every week.
All of this just seems way too overwhelming. Suddenly it’s 2 a.m. and you have just started your homework. Once you’re a junior, you get a lot smarter and decided to drop such an intense schedule. Of course, we sophomores aren’t that smart. We trick ourselves into thinking we enjoy having absolutely no free time. It’s almost as if we need to compensate for our pathetic position as sophomores.
Using sophomore year for anything other than finishing up your general education requirements and starting your first major classes is almost pointless. No one really seems to care about the sophomores of the world as much as the shiny new toy that is the freshman or the super-cool upperclassmen. Whatever we try to do seems unappreciated.
When I was a sophomore in high school, I suffered through the horribleness, simply hoping I would make it to junior year alive. Maybe that’s the goal as college sophomores, too. Simply survive.
Sophomores of the University don’t shoot for the moon. Don’t even shoot for the best. The best we can ask for is good enough grades to graduate. This year, let’s just aim to get at least four hours of sleep instead of three.