No matter what school you go to, how close to home you are, or your level of excitement, freshman year is an intimidating new beginning. Your entire routine changes, and you are ultimately thrown into this brand new environment filled with unfamiliar places, faces, and the like. Throughout the year, you learn things as you go, and by the end of your freshman year of college you hopefully feel pretty well established and confident in your ability to function on your own. Summer flies by, and the next thing you know, the brief break from school and stress you received for a few months vanishes as you begin steadily approaching your sophomore year. And then it hits you: you're no longer a freshman.
You take a glance at the past and reflect over what it felt like to be a freshman in this now so familiar place you call home. As you look at all of the brand new freshmen moving in, you remember how scared you had been, and wondered if any of them were feeling the same way you had. Your heart suddenly reaches out to them and you just want to assure them "you can do it!", but you know they hear it all the time and that no amount of positive energy will truly prepare them in their learning endeavors both in and out of the classroom. So you wish them good luck and hope for the best, as you now realize upperclassmen must have done for you.
Most likely, your sophomore home is somewhere other than your freshman home. As you settle in, you know exactly what to do. Last year had been so confusing and overwhelming as you moved your things around your room, but now all you feel is collected and calm. You know how to adjust the beds, you know how to store your belongings, and you know exactly where your mini fridge should go so both you and your roommate have equal access. It all feels like a breeze.
The goodbye to your parents is much less terrifying and emotional. Of course you will miss them, but you know exactly how to fend for yourself now, and you know that you will see them soon enough. You say hi to all of the friends you made last year with confident faith that you will be making plenty of new memories with them this year, and you're excited.
As the night before classes begin falls upon you, you're already dreading the amount of work that will need to be put in to each class in order to get a good grade, but you're ready for it. You know what the workload feels like now, and how to better manage your time. You look around at your fully unpacked room, knowing that you are fully prepared for the days ahead.
Starting your sophomore year is much different than beginning your freshman year, but the year itself might be just as challenging. Being back at the same place that once intimidated you so much, without any intimidation present, ignites a feeling of confidence in all of the upperclassmen. We're ready.
As we begin the second year of our college career, among all of the excitement, dread, and wonder we are feeling, we have in our heads only one thought: here we go again.
