Sophomore year brings new academics, new relationships and most of all, new challenges. So, how does one begin to survive it all? It all starts with understanding how sophomore year goes and taking advice from those who have already been through it.
One of the biggest challenges is the new academics. According to Hoover guidance counselor Mr. Brian Girdlestone, sophomore year is a big adjustment.
“Academics are harder with the introduction of Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and they just become more stressed,” he said.
Senior Kathryn Nutt agrees that AP courses changed her academic outlook.
“Going from freshman year academics to AP classes was so overwhelming, it was so much more work,” she said.
Girdlestone added that the difficulties of the academics are some of the hardest in high school.
“Sophomore year seems to be harder than freshmen year. But, doing your best is what is most important,” he said.
Junior Lauren Moore said she had to push herself a lot harder academically compared to freshmen year, especially since it went from no AP courses to very time consuming classes.
“AP biology was terrifying and difficult,” she said.
Junior Ian Murphy also said that the transition was difficult with AP American History and double biology periods.
Juggling more than academics also proves to be a challenge.
“Taking on ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ with class work and sports was something I had to get used to,” Nutt said.
Murphy looks more at the social aspects of sophomore year.
“Soccer and track were fun. Social things were the best,” he said.
Moore said she would rather remember the social aspects.
“I loved the social part of sophomore year, the school part was difficult though,” she said.
Girdlestone said that in sophomore year there are more relationships, friends, family and developmental issues to deal with.
“Sometimes a sophomore girl, or even a boy, may have interest in an older student and they don’t know how to handle it,” he said.
Moore said that sophomore year was the first time she felt more on her own.
“You are on your own now; no more baby steps,” she said.
Nutt said she gave up due to the stress of her classes, though she now advises against doing so.
“Not giving up is the biggest thing, whatever it may be. When you are still an underclassmen you can still push yourself and your learning,” she said.
Murphy also warns against not doing work.
“Don’t expect it to be like freshmen year because it is harder, you can’t slack,” he said.
Moore recommends using the AP books and reading all the text.
“I probably would have read the textbooks I was supposed to because I missed a lot by not doing that. I would have also started homework earlier and studied more,” she said.
Finding a balance between school and outside activities is what Girdlestone counsels. In addition, how to handle events is important.
“The key to an event is how we handle it after. However it is handled can make it good or bad, a positive experience or a mistake,” he said.