By Siena Houk, Staff Writer
With the year coming to an end, we begin to think about the upcoming school year and the challenges that come with it. Sophomores are preparing for the alleged “most stressful” academic year.
Sophomore Wesley Weih explains, “It is crazy to think about. I don’t know how to feel, to be honest, I can’t believe I am already a junior. This year felt so fast but I am excited to experience new things.” The fact that the year has already come to an end was a great shock to Wesley. Although surprised, he remains positive for the new year, ready to take on new challenges.
Saying goodbye to sophomore year and all of the memories created may be hard for some. Gabby Ortanez says she’ll miss “the ease of the classes and not getting as much homework.” Wesley agrees saying, “I will miss not having as much pressure and not having to look for colleges which I know will be pretty stressful.” Seemingly sophomores are mainly going to miss the lack of work they are given this year as opposed to the increase next year.
As the old sophomore class moves on and the freshmen take over, they may be left with some nerves about what to expect. Faith Odubanjo shares some words of advice saying to “prepare yourself. Although this year definitely isn’t as stressful as junior year, you will get a sophomore slump. It normally happens around the second quarter. It isn’t bad overall though, just stay on top of your work.”
Junior year is notorious for being the year of picking colleges. This is when you search for the right fit, write your entry essay: perfectly capturing your story, and send them in hoping for the best. Looking for colleges can add a lot of pressure to one’s plate. Sarah Thomas said she is “a little bit scared for college because I plan on playing a sport. I think I am pretty okay with the idea of it though. It may seem scary but I know once I get to the point of picking I can handle it.”
Clubs and sports next year are changing and since the sophomores already have some idea of what they like to participate in, it should be an easy pick. Wesley says he wants to “participate in some clubs. I’m still deciding if I should join a sport or not because I am going to be pretty busy.” Similarly Serene Daoud explains, “I might take debate next year and maybe take a spring sport because I am not normally a sports person. I might consider it though because I have yet to do a sport and would like to try.”
Overall, the upcoming juniors are excited to finally be considered upperclassmen and get the keys to their future. They eagerly anticipate the newfound responsibilities and freedoms that come with their elevated status, ready to navigate the journey ahead with enthusiasm and determination.