Step 1. Now that your schedule has blank spaces throughout, your old “study halls” are free periods. You no longer have to sit quietly doing work as a teacher monitors you from the front of the classroom. You’re sophomores, and you can now lounge in the Stacks Room during frees. But with this privilege comes responsibility. Use your free time wisely; otherwise, you may find yourself so engrossed in a conversation with your friends that you never even pull out your problem set, and your free time is over in a snap.
Step 2. Your walking privileges have been upgraded! You can now leave the building during break or a free period. To grab a quick snack during these time slots, try Butterfield’s refreshing frozen yogurt. It’s delicious!
Step 3. Don’t take on too many leadership roles in clubs in which you now may be a second or third-year member. Try to balance your academics and extracurriculars. It’s better to be involved in few, related activities that you’re really passionate about than a slew of random ones for the sake of boosting your resume.
Step 4. To work on a final draft of your English paper or to flip through your Spanish vocabulary cards, head into the main reading room. I promise that you’ll be able to get a lot more work done there than you would ever be able to get done in the Stacks!
Step 5. If you’re a third-year Latin student like I was, expect an abundance of review quizzes. And when I say an abundance, I really mean an abundance. Quizlet is a great, easy-to-use study resource, so be sure to make an account and get studying!
Step 6. Make a Facebook group for your grade if you don’t have one already. Now that you’ve already endured a whole year of high school togehter, you are all practically sisters. Use the page to update each other with announcements or put up motivational posts to get everybody through the year.
Step 7: Keep a healthy balanced diet. Young girls cope with stress differently. While some girls funnel junk food into their systems like they’re going into hibernation, others cut their diets down due to the constant workload. Let yourself indulge in a cookie when Le Bistro offers them, but don’t change your hairstyle three times in hopes that Ishmael won’t remember you.
Step 8: Make sure to get a good amount of sleep every night. Don’t cram for a chemistry test the night before. Be sure to spread out your studying so that you’re alive and awake for the next day.
Step 9: If you go to Hewitt hot spot, 3 Guys, for lunch, be sure to ask for the Hewitt discount!
Step 10: Let sophomore year be exactly what it is: a bridge between freshman and junior year. By that, I mean that you’re now an active member of the high school community with privileges and experience, but remember that you’re still an underclassman. Don’t let the “everything counts” talk keep you from having a great year. Don’t think about college just yet. That’s what junior and senior years are for. Just focus on your studies and do the best that you can!