By Alexander El Sawi, Staff Writer
As the year winds down, high school freshmen are looking forward to their sophomore year with a mix of excitement, anticipation, and slight anxiety.
For freshmen, the transition to sophomore year is a step toward greater independence and responsibility. “I would view freshman year as a test for the rest of my high school years,” says freshman Shorbadoman De. “Next year, I feel like I’ll have a lot more freedom, participating in clubs, being able to drive, and choosing harder classes.” Taking harder classes can benefit college admissions and prepare you better for college-level coursework.
Sophomore year also allows you to take classes that better align with your interests. Freshmen have spent the year adapting to the demands of high school academics and are ready to prove themselves in more advanced classes. Shrij Desai says, “I am looking forward to taking more specialized classes that I didn’t know about last year and that match better with things I like.” Shorbodaman comments, “I am most excited for our principles of design management class as that correlates with one of the clubs I’m in, which is FBLA. Since I’m doing pretty well in that, I’m excited to see where that goes.”
Socially, the shift to sophomore year is also viewed as an opportunity for growth and a more collective community. Many freshmen have spent the year building new friendships and finding their social group. “Through our whole class, we will probably [have] more of a community and we will be more united as we spend more time together,” says Shorbodaman.
However, the anticipation isn’t without some concerns. Many freshmen worry about the increased workload, balancing that with their extracurriculars and social lives. Freshman Suraj Patel says, “I like being able to take the more difficult classes, but I’m not excited about more work, and a lot less of the free periods I had freshman year.”
Despite the concerns, many freshmen see their upcoming sophomore year as a chance for self-improvement. Freshmen are eager to apply the lessons learned during their first year of high school to become more effective students. Suraj states, “I hope I learn from my mistakes [from] last year and study more, not procrastinate, spend more time on my homework, and spend more time preparing for tests and exams.”
Overall, the freshmen are optimistic about the new year. They spent their first year adapting to the new environment of high school and are looking forward to the next step in their journey. “My freshman year was a great start. I was able to handle all of my work and learned a lot, but I’m excited for sophomore year,” says Shorbadoman.
As the freshman class gets ready to advance toward their sophomore year, they will keep with them their lessons, friendships, and experiences of their first year in high school. With anticipation and a positive view, they are ready to welcome the next chapter of their academic and personal lives.