Sophomore Slump

While the fourth quarter of sophomore year rolls around, so does the notorious sophomore slump. This is a phase of decreased academic motivation and energy among 10th graders. At this time of year, sophomores are convinced by teachers, counselors, and parents that now is the time to fill their resume and get ready for college.

“I feel like it's acceptable for seniors to have senior slump, but as soon as a sophomore says I’m tired of school, there's always someone who tells us ‘well don't get tired yet, you still have two more years’,”  NHS sophomore Cassie Pickering said.

 This is the first year that 10th graders find themselves in AP classes, so as the AP tests draw closer, so do the late nights of studying and cramming for the test. Standardized testing such as the pre SAT and the PreAct have a greater impact and become more daunting. Without the excuse of being a freshman, sophomores deal with the pressure of now being known as capable of taking more difficult classes.

“Sophomore year is like the in-between of high school. Freshman year is to get you acclimated to high school. Junior year is where you prepare for college and focus on what you want to do with your life. Senior year you're out of here. Sophomore year is like freshman year extended, but we are all already acclimated to the school,” Pickering said.

As well as the difficult classes, spring athletes find themselves in the peak of their season. Sophomore year makes all the difference between JV and Varsity so there is no slowing down now.

“I thought this year would be easier considering it’s still only the first half of high school. If this is how sophomore year is, how bad will junior year be?” NHS sophomore Rusa Ellul said.

There are new responsibilities that come with being a sophomore as well. As Long as no longer being a freshman and having it is an excuse, 10th graders also have personal requirements they have to manage.

Most Newtown High School students at the age of 16 study to get their driver's permit and license. On top of the studying that needs to be done, if they want to get their license faster they can take classes after school.

“Drivers Ed is extremely time consuming on top of studying and sports. You are forced to have your face always on camera and you can’t be in a moving car while it is going on either, so I can’t be coming back from practice,” NHS sophomore Mauricio De la Garza said.

Coming directly back from spring break, the weather is beautiful, high temperatures of 76 degrees and UVs reaching a high 8 as winter rolls out for the year. The last thing any student wants, sophomore or not, is to be cooped up inside.

“Everybody always says junior year has the most work, everyone hates it, and some even call it junioritis. It is the assumption that sophomore and freshman year are the easiest because you’re an underclassman. But, to me, that does not feel like the case,” Ellul said.

Although the definition of sophomore slump is actually the lack of motivation, it is the perfect time in your high school career to evaluate and reassess your academics and extracurricular struggles and overcome them.

 There is no better time than halfway through high school to change your perspective. Of course, summer is still approaching and it's getting harder to focus, but it's the best time to redirect.

Take a proactive look at the rest of sophomore year. Sophomore year is tough, but now is the time to learn resilience, make achievable goals, and stay organized. Then finally, take a well-deserved break over summer and return refreshed for the junior year.

Studies at Harvard College say the best things you can do to get out of this sophomore slump phase are going outside to get a change of scenery, treat yourself with something as simple as your favorite Starbucks drink or food, and surround yourself with family and friends as much as you can.

“Even setting aside a few minutes to do something reflective and relaxing can put you in a better mindset for the rest of the day,” Rahma from the Harvard African Student Association said.