I’m starting to think that sophomore year is a time of great expectations. I know what to anticipate, I’ve been through the motions before. I have a group of friends, a set list of activities, classes I actually want to take, and a very nice dorm. I know the layout of TCNJ, where to get the best bagels, what time to get Meal Equiv, when to do laundry, and how many points I realistically need to spend.
Yet at the same time, I feel like my discovery of TCNJ is not quite over. There are still so many people I have yet to befriend and adventures I need to take. I do not have a specific notion when I write “adventure,” but I do know that I want to truly enjoy every moment I have as a sophomore.
I have a feeling that sophomore year will be way more interesting than the first year because I know what to expect this time around. I know what I’m doing. For instance, I know that this year, I don’t want to spend my winter feeling helplessly confined to my dorm. I am well aware of what foods to stay away from, though I will probably end up consuming them anyway.
Then, of course, there are the aspects of the year that are still unknown. A lot of this year will be a “wait-and-see” process. I do not know who my neighbors will be. I also do not know how hard my classes will be or how time-consuming my activities truthfully are. Will I get better at writing? Will I gain valuable scholastic knowledge? Will I still manage to forget something when I go back to school, like when I forgot to pack deodorant when I moved back in second semester, only to realize the next morning in the middle of a slushy snowstorm?
You cannot really expect what is going to happen next year, or in life for that matter. But who can’t help looking forward to going back to school? If it’s something to be excited about, be excited. Just don’t go into anything with too high of expectations. I’m more or less excited just to see how everything pans out this year. Like I said, it’s a wait-and-see time in our lives. We have to appreciate every moment of it.