Advice from one sophomore to another

Being a sophomore can be an amazing experience if you work hard and have fun while you’re at it. It’s your chance to get further involved in school activities such as clubs, organizations, electives, service, etc. Since you will no longer be a freshman, there aren’t as many required classes you have to take. There’s also a whole realm of newly available classes to take for all upperclassmen such as money matters, advertising, graphic design and so much more.

Hopefully, after your freshman year, you will be more comfortable locating where things are.  Attending school sponsored activities like football games will be more fun because you won’t have to worry about standing in the back of the student section. It’s a common misconception that the older you are, the larger the workload is. In fact, the workload all depends on the courses you take. For example, a WHAP student will have a larger workload than an On level World History student would have. Regardless if you’ve taken an AP class previously or not, it’s a good idea to look into a pre-AP or AP class for your sophomore year. Yes, it is quite a heap of work but it can definitely be a rewarding experience if you try your best. Here are some helpful tips useful to any upcoming sophomore.

Try your best to turn in your work on the assigned due date. Do not abuse your advantage of due date extension or extra time, especially if you struggle with time management and procrastination.

Take advantage of your PSAT and think of ways you can improve for next year’s SAT. Both tests are similarly structured and graded. Do not rush through the PSAT or put minimal effort into it because it can reflect on how prepared you are to take your future SAT, it’s closer than you think.

Just because your teacher posts the answer key doesn’t mean you should copy the answers, trust me on this one. Your teachers expect that you take initiative to come in before school, during pit, lunch or after school if you need one-on-one help from them. They won’t feel bad for you if they notice that you aren’t putting effort into their class. Of course, they won’t be mad if you are confused about something but teachers want to know that their students are trying their best. So if you don’t understand something, the best you can do for now is go in for tutorials. Most teachers are happy to help!

Lastly, your sophomore year goes by in a blink of an eye so don’t be afraid to make new friends and get comfortable with classmates and teachers. You can make your school year much more fun if you feel comfortable in your surroundings and aren’t afraid to speak up. Step outside of your shell and try sitting with a new face at lunch. You may be surprised how many great people there are at Vandegrift.