Dear Current Sophomore,

You have done it. You have made it in the big time. You lost hours of sleep, gained a new-found addiction to anything with caffeine, but above all else you have made it halfway through college.

That's a crazy thought to have, isn't it?

But that's how it appears to be, and quite frankly I would consider this a grand wake up call. While there is still time to enjoy the newfound connections that you have forged, and all the crazy (and questionable) stunts over the years, you have also been brought to a crossroads. You have two years (more or less) left and that's it.

Now if you find this crazy, imagine what that means for a college athlete to think half their career is done. Only two more seasons, and then that sport that has been held close to their hearts is lost. The thrill that players experience when their name gets called over the amplifiers, the cheering fans providing intense and passionate cheers and the pride players receive to represent their school in more than just academics. In two years, all of those amazing perks and qualities of life as a student athlete will be gone.

Perhaps consider this moment, a moment to remind yourself that it's important to not grow up too fast, but soon you will be a grown up whether you like it or not. While some will be ambitious to continue and study in graduate school, for the majority this is it. These last two years are all we have left before the world suddenly expects us to grow up.

Honestly, I would say be proud that you have come this far. For we both know you have seen people leave behind the idea of a higher education and others who have lost reason to care. You have seen people who would much rather be anywhere but in class, living strictly on the notion that C's get degrees. You have simply sacrificed too much to get to the place you have come to now, and you have just come too far to falter.

So in these final two weeks, enjoy the moment while it lasts. Go outside and watch the stars, make even more friends, do something you would never have dared to do in high school. Experience all new things, but with the same perspective that you have gained by being in college for two years. You now stand in a position in which you can use what you have learned to good use but still be capable of being able to learn something new each and every day.

So stop Netflix and chilling and start focusing on how you can put your newfound lessons into practice for the next two years. Good luck!

Sincerely,

A Junior-To-Be