Advice To Incoming Sophomores
Photo from Pexels by Karolina Grabowska.
Emily Hokanson
Sophomore year is like being the middle child; you’re not the youngest, but you’re definitely not the oldest either. Now that you have one year of high school completed, you have a little more experience when it comes to being a high school student. But there’s still a lot to learn. In this article, I give the top six pieces of advice I would give to any incoming sophomore!
1. Enjoy It
You won’t even realize how great your sophomore year is until it’s over. Sophomore year was my least stressful year throughout all of high school. There’s something about not being the youngest grade, but also not having the responsibility of the older grades yet. This is the year where you can focus on having fun and keeping good grades. You don’t have to worry about the ACT or college applications yet. So, take advantage of this year because there’s not another one like it in high school. Enjoy it!
2. Narrow Down Extracurriculars
Freshman year was all about exploring your options and trying out as many different clubs/activities as possible. But now is the best time to start narrowing down the clubs/activities that really interest you and that you’d like to spend more time doing. By investing your time into the clubs/activities you find most important, you’ll be able to build a foundation for future leadership opportunities and connections that can be used later on in your high school career! And if you haven’t already, try investing your time in volunteering opportunities outside of school! This is a great way to network with more people and further your impact on the community!
3. DON’T Overload Your Junior Year Schedule
This happens time and time again when people are planning out their junior year. A lot of people think they can juggle a difficult course load, sports, extracurricular activities, and life, but a lot of people quickly realize, they can’t. Junior year is arguably one of the hardest years in high school, due to the pressure of the ACT, figuring out after high school plans, and having to earn phenomenal grades. It’s important to focus on what you can control and your schedule is one thing you can. Yes, AP classes are important, but taking too many can hurt you more than help you in the long run. Take some time to reach out to your counselors and teachers to see what they recommend when it comes to your schedule. Their guidance is incredibly useful! Take time to really think about what kind of course load you’re able to handle, so you can find a balance right for YOU!
4. If You Haven’t, TAKE AP Classes
If you haven’t taken any AP classes your freshman or sophomore year yet, add them to your schedule for junior year! It’s highly recommended that you try taking at least one AP class in high school. If you want an idea of what a college level course is like, this is a great opportunity to have that experience! You can also earn college credits which can help you save money on college tuition. If you’re worried about not being able to handle an AP class, then, like I said earlier in the article, REACH OUT to counselors and teachers. They can help you decide what AP courses you’re best equipped for and will succeed in. Try it, you won’t regret it!
5. Get Your License
I know this sounds like a given, but I know a lot of people that waited until junior and even senior year to get their license. But if you’re able, get your license. Junior and senior year are busy enough, so adding 30 hours of drivers ed is not ideal. Being able to drive can make it a lot easier to get involved, seeing that you don’t need to rely on others to get you places. It’s also good to have a form of ID because you will be using it a lot for ACT/Placement testing and things like donating blood. Just get your license, even if you can’t drive right away, you’re still going to want it.
6. Get a Job
Yes, I know a lot of you are really busy, but sophomore year is the perfect year to get a job and adapt it into your schedule. Then, when you enter your junior year you will have already found a work/life balance. Getting job experience in high school will prepare you A LOT for the future when it comes to teamwork, leadership, problem solving, etc. Having job experience also shows colleges and other employers that you have the qualities they’re looking for! Jobs are also a GREAT way to make connections, especially if you’re doing something related to your future career. So get a job!
Sophomore year is by far one of the best years of high school and it’s a time where you really begin to figure things out. Don’t try to make it go by fast; enjoy it!
