Mia Shields

As we jumped into sophomore year with fresh minds and high expectations, just as it did as freshmen, reality came at us with full force once again. While the level-up of being a sophomore certainly aided us in ways that being a freshman did not, the year had its own set of obstacles. While we aimed for the moon in many aspects of our lives this year, we often found ourselves among the stars. Now, from our personal experiences, here are the 10 most important lessons we learned from sophomore year.

Take an Inventory – E.C.

Sophomore year is known, at least at Miami Palmetto Senior High, for being one of the less stressful years. Without the burdens of college applications, SATs or Mrs. Farkas’ homework, sophomore year is the perfect time to truly take inventory of your high school career so far and set goals for the future. There is no better time to start making final decisions on what clubs you want to join, what classes you want to take, how you are going to get all your credits and even which colleges you want to look into next year. Sophomore year is an ideal time to join things like clubs or teams, as you have one year of experience in high school to help you determine the workload you can handle, while also having three years to continue whatever you decide to start. Planning the summer after sophomore year is crucial as well, with educational and service opportunities being great options. From experience, I recommend having your summer plans at least decided by around January, as this will allow you time to apply to multiple academic or service programs if you are not settled on just one yet.

Do Not Get Comfortable – G.A.

Unlike freshman year, sophomore year offers a sense of familiarity and comfort as we kick off our second year of high school. With this, students can relish in “the know” without feeling any intense pressure of a fresh start. However, it is important to never get too comfortable in any setting. Rather than repeating the same old everyday routine, students should take advantage and remember the importance of trying new things. Sophomore year presented me with countless opportunities that made for memorable experiences. Through participating in school events such as Panther Prowl and Geography/History Bee for the first time, I was able to foster relationships with others I was not as close to prior. Additionally, I was able to focus more time on my extracurricular activities during this time, allowing myself to put forth maximum dedication and love into my activities.

Change is Inevitable – G.A.

Often, we carry on in life with the reassurance of knowing who we are. However, one of the main lessons I learned this year is that we are constantly changing and evolving. As someone who has always found comfort in knowing who I am, this was difficult for me to embrace. Yet, with all that sophomore year has brought me, I have come to realize that people grow with time. Naturally, people’s beliefs, priorities and/or personalities can alter based on countless factors. Depending on where someone is in their life and the overall dynamics of different situations, people can appear as strangers to those who once knew them and as close as family to those who know them now. As life leads you down many paths, we are all bound to transform. Change has constantly revolved around me this year, in many forms. Whether within my friend groups, family or even myself, I learned one thing: people change. This is inevitable, no matter how much we may wish for things to stay the same. Although it can be tough, my experiences this past year have taught me not to shy away from this. Instead, I learned to look forward to change and embrace it. 

Let it be, then let it go – E.C.

Zach Bryan said it best: “let it be, then let it go.” While Bryan is referring to a specific type of grief in the song — grieving a person — this strategy works when grieving over anything, from a test grade to a relationship. As Gabi said, sophomore year comes with a lot of changes and not all are for the best. Instead of pushing your reactions aside, even if it feels better not to cry or rant, it is important to sit in those negative emotions for a while. The only way to truly get over something is to deal with your emotions directly and honestly. If you do not “get over it,” that is okay. Acknowledging that something made you angry, frustrated or even just sad is the first step in dealing with whatever happened to you, and no one is allowed to tell you how long that step should take. No two people deal with grief the same way, so it is important never to let anyone tell you that you are taking too long to process something. Only by letting something happen and letting yourself feel emotions can you ever let it go.

Be There For Others – G.A.

One of the things I learned this year is the value of having supportive friends and being one in return. While sophomore year does offer familiarity, it comes with its own set of challenges. During this time, I recognized the love I have for those always at my side, lifting me up when I want to fall down. No matter what I was facing, I knew my friends would be there to support me in my times of struggle. In turn, I learned to reciprocate my support for them by attending events they were participating in, being a shoulder to lean on and always offering truthful advice. Despite always having done some of these things, it was this year that I fully understood the extent of its impact. Even something as small as a redundant “You got this!” message goes a long way when people are grappling with life. Along with this, never underestimate the power of a friendly hug (they truly can brighten up a bad day).

Self Care = Self-Improvement – E.C. 

When most high schoolers think of “self-improvement,” they associate this with productivity. Fixing grades, grinding at the gym, over-studying for tests, joining the board of every club, the list goes on. What I have learned this year, though, is that sometimes self-care is the best form of self-improvement. It might sound cliché, but all those cringey millennial “mental health influencers” on your “For You” page are right: taking care of your mind and peace should always come first. It is important to remember that you need to prioritize your individual needs, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed. Whether that means going out with your friends instead of getting ahead on homework or staying in and going to sleep early while your friends party on a Saturday night, you should never feel guilty for not wanting to “lock in” or socialize all the time. Needing to recharge your batteries once in a while is perfectly normal, and a little relaxation is often the best form of self-improvement out there.

Keep an Open Mind – G.A.

At times, school can get the best of us and make us forget all we have accomplished thus far. This year I found it easy to spiral into a negative mindset whenever my classes got tough. However, no matter how difficult I found a certain class or period of the school year, I reinforced the idea of perspective. Through keeping an open mind I learned how to keep on overcoming whatever obstacle was present at the moment. With a futuristic mindset, I accustomed myself to focusing on how I could improve my current situation for my future self, departing from dismissing the resources available to help myself in the present moment. No matter what the outcome was during these stressful times, I learned to recognize that life continues on. It is more important to continue on with it and find the silver lining — the good in our struggles.

Be Decisive – E.C.

I am an extremely non-confrontational person. In the past, when I have had a problem, especially with another person, I have simply learned to live with it or wait for it to pass, usually pretending it did not affect me. However, I have learned this year that this is not simply being unproblematic, it is just unhealthy. When you are faced with an issue or obstacle, you have to take action and make a conscious decision to deal with it and solve your problem. After making that decision to fix whatever is bothering you, be swift and resolute in the decisions you make in order to find the solution. Do not feel bad for being cutthroat and prioritizing yourself when making these decisions either — it is important to be thoughtful and empathetic, but there is a fine line between cutting people slack and letting them walk all over you. 

Be Self-Aware – G.A.

Sophomore year of high school is unique to the other grade levels for a number of reasons. The most evident factor that sets this year apart in my eyes is the freedom granted to us. With another year comes new responsibilities, as well as deciding how you handle them. When I began to drive on my own this year, I was prompted to think about all the ways I impact the world, from behind the wheel and beyond. From this, I learned to be more self-aware of how my actions impact myself and others. My ability to remain accountable and responsible for everything and everyone I am looking after is a consistent reflection on who I am and who I intend to be. Overall, through gaining more freedom I have recognized that it is important to enjoy it and learn from it.

Just Ask – E.C.

One of the main lessons I learned this year is that one of the scariest things a person can do is ask for help. I also learned that it is one of the most important. Whether you want help from a teacher on an assignment, your parents to get you a tutor, advice from your older friends, help with an overwhelming workload or even professional help concerning mental health, you should never be afraid to reach out and ask for something you want or need. Even with less serious things, like how to try out for a team or getting your hallway crush’s Instagram, there is never any harm in just asking. After all, there are only two possible outcomes: you either get what you want when you ask, or you get what you want in another way a little later. If you sit and wait around, you will be comfortable, but the things you want will be just like seniors during the last month of school: nowhere to be found.