According to Wikipedia, a sophomore slump is defined as:
An instance in which a second effort fails to live up to the standards of the first effort
According to Emory girls, a sophomore slump is:
The feeling that your epic, life-changing freshman year was just too good to be topped by sophomore year
This notion is followed by a feeling of depression that you’ve died a little inside, you’ve peaked, and your crazy college life is over. Time to become a real person now! It’s that feeling you get when you find out a freshman gets into Maggie’s but you got turned away. (How do you not remember my face? Sorry guys, I’m still a little bitter.)
I am here to tell you that yes, unfortunately the sophomore slump is a real thing, not merely a rumor. However, we can overcome it. In fact, there are a number of older Emory girls who would say that their sophomore year was better than their freshman year. I mean, think about it- you already know everyone so you’re way more comfortable. Hopefully, you’ve found your place in a club and/or sorority and you don’t need to go through the tedious soul-searching. Plus, you don’t need to go through the rush process all over again and instead, see the process from the other side. The list could go on…
Yes, there is a lot of hype over freshman year, but not only can your sophomore year live up to the hype – it can be even better. You may have seen this saying on inspirational posters in high school classrooms, and it is making a comeback as our motto in this scenario: “Attitude is everything.” Here are a few steps you can take to change your attitude and shift your perspective, taking down the sophomore slump for good.
1. Change Up Your Room Design
Speaking of attitude, nothing can influence your attitude like your environment. With that, your sanctuary can be found in your dorm room and/or sorority lodge. Switch up your design to keep things interesting! You’ve learned a lot since designing your room as a naïve freshman, and your style might’ve changed. Incorporate some new trends, like big bold mantra decals, Hamsa hands, dream catchers (having a major reappearance since we last saw them in the early 2000s), elephants, and vintage Polaroid photographs. The best part about being a sophomore and redecorating your room is finally being able to incorporate Greek décor. Check out Dormify’s selection for the best Greek dorm products.
2. Befriend the Freshmen, Don’t Dismiss Them
Some sophomores may think that the freshmen are stealing their thunder, stealing their boys, and stealing their old homes. However, instead of looking at them as thieves, we should view them as our little sisters. Speaking of which, you never know if they’ll be in your sorority one day. Hunting for littles anyone? The freshman class this year is so cute, and they open up the possibility of making new friends. Take them out on dates and really get to know them, because you remember what it was like to be in their shoes just one year ago. Plus, it’s fun to play the maternal role as their college counselor/older sister.
3. Join A New Club
If you’ve found your niche, that’s great! However, the process of finding yourself in college doesn’t end at the close of your freshman year. Try something random that you’ve always wanted to do but never had the courage to try. Sophomore year is the perfect time to try it because you’ve started to find your place, and you’ve gained the confidence to go WAY more out of your comfort zone than you did as a freshman. For example, since I was little I always wanted to be a hip-hop dancer, like those girls in Missy Elliot music videos. This year, for the first time, I will be auditioning for a hip-hop dance group- we’ll see how that goes…
4. Make A Bucket List
Now that you’re a sophomore, take a retrospective look at the epic things you did your freshman year, but also look at the things you didn’t do. Did you hike Stone Mountain yet? Did you visit the Georgia Aquarium? The clock is ticking- three more years left until graduation, and we become real world people! Start checking those aspirations off your list. If you haven’t made a list yet, stop reading this article, shut your laptop, and make one ASAP.
5. Make “Club Lib” a Thing
The increased academic challenges are an inevitable obstacle we have to face our sophomore year. Instead of seeing more work and more pressure on grades as a burden, make having an increase in workload an opportunity to connect even more with your peers. By that, I mean that you should try making the library a social thing. I can’t count the number of times I went to the library to do work by myself, found a study group, and unexpectedly made some of my closest friends. This time around, really make an effort to form study groups, and get that much more into school work- you seriously never know where you’ll find your inspiration. Tuesdays are all about Los Loros, Wednesdays are MJQ, and Thursdays are Maggie’s, but Sunday night is ALL about Club Lib, the hottest club in the ATL.
6. Take Advantage of Atlanta
The single greatest thing about being a sophomore is a car. Not having a car freshman year felt like being trapped. You were stuck on campus with the DUC. Now, a car can make the world your oyster, and you can explore all the great, unique, and trendy restaurants Atlanta has to offer, like West Egg Café for brunch in Midtown Atlanta or The One Sushi Plus for a distinct sushi experience. Beyond merely the food, Atlanta has so many fun things to do when you have a car, like the great shopping at Phipps or seeing the amazing artists that stop through the ATL. So get out there, take advantage of having your car, and tear up the road- that is, if you find a way to avoid the notorious Atlanta traffic.
Freshman year was great, but it’s in our past. It’s time to move on to bigger and better things. We’ve got bigger fish to fry! If you follow these steps and keep a good attitude, your sophomore year just might be your best year yet.