Sophomore year struggles.

It almost makes you think that your college freshman year was like freshman year of high school looking back on it. You take the basic, easy courses (most of us). You usually don't get a job, or even think about getting one. You're experiencing everything new so fast, and before you know it, the year is over. You met all these great friends, did all these new things in a new place, and your parents are just excited you've made it here, or are upset you're this far along.

Then sophomore year hits you like a brick after freshman year flies by. And you stare at freshmen (because of course we assume we can pick them out of a crowd, like the year of school comes with the name tag or obvious look). You realize your parents are over the constant "I miss you stage" and replace it with "Are you looking into getting a job??" every phone call. There are less and less classes that remind you of the basic high school courses, and you start piling things onto the second round entree that is sophomore year.

You might be in a sorority or fraternity, and the excitement of just joining is now over. You have responsibilities, greeting new pledges and rushees, and charity events to attend.

Your parents are seriously harping on you about getting a job and having your own income. Like seriously harping. And all you can do is sit and listen to it, because "I barely have enough time between two classes a day, napping, netflix, and going out to get a job mom" does not work as a valid excuse for any parent.

Every direction you turn is about your major. By sophomore year, everyone is supposed to have it figured out. People are starting to enroll in particular classes, get internships, meet with career advisors, and so on. And you don't even know what classes you liked taking versus the one class you hated the professor in.

Every adult over the summer of sophomore year asks any possible question, repeating every day, about your major/career/guys at school/classes/course load/etc.

With more distinct classes comes more distinct work, things you can't just BS to pass the class, but actually need to know for a career choice and for future endeavors.

You met a great group of new people freshman year, and now comes the pressure of trying to branch out even more and meet new people again, but also the laziness and contentment that comes with the same friend group you have.

Even through all these, and a million more tasks come along with sophomore year, you still make the great memories you did freshman year. Branch out and meet new people, take the harder courses that your career will depend on, take the further step in life to reaching your goals. Get a job. Seriously: get a job. And remember, every year only gets more stressful and busy. So on the positive side, junior year when you're taking the class you have no hope of passing but need to, you'll look back on sophomore year and wish you could go back. So enjoy.