Dear incoming Sophomores,

Upon entering sophomore year, there are a few things you should know. First, sophomore year isn’t as scary as the rumors claim. Sure, classes are more challenging, because they should be! Second, you might experience some changes in friendships, but many people do because you start to grow closer to your fellow Angels and find the girls you are meant to be with. The year may seem scary, and as sophomores, all of the attention will no longer be on you. However, sophomore year is amazing! You feel more comfortable with who you are and what you want to do–growing as a person and as a student.

I was afraid of the dreaded “sophomore switch,” but don’t be. For one, if it even happens, understand that it’s not a switch, but an evolution. You will find your true friends gradually, and you don’t have to ditch the friends you have now to make the “switch.” Your circle simply grows, connected to other circles and friends. It might seem scary at first, but like every change, it will simply take a second to adjust. However, not everyone even has a “switch,” and you shouldn’t expect or force any change to happen if you don’t want it to.

As far a school goes, you’re going to start feeling a lot more comfortable at school. You not only know your way around the building, but you are more familiar with school traditions, clubs, and teachers. Of course every year is different and new in some way, but you’ll come into the year feeling more prepared and ready to take on the school year. The courses are more challenging, but they should be! Trust me, it’s nothing you can’t handle! Every sophomore has their fair share of stress, but so did you your freshman year. You’ll get the hang of it, and the challenges will only make you a better student. My suggestion is to let stress fuel productivity and to decide when you will allow yourself to feel stressed. When it’s late at night and you’re stressed about all the things you need to finish, decide what is the most important and accomplish that. Tomorrow is always a new day. So don’t worry about it and focus on accomplishing today’s goals. You should work ahead and prepare for the week but don’t let the stress build up. Instead, be proud of the work you did accomplish.

Overall, sophomore year definitely carries its difficulties, but it has been the best year of my life! I have grown in my friendships and strengthened the relationships I formed freshman year while creating new ones. I have grown as a student, devoting more time to academics and feeling a sense of accomplishment after a hard semester of work. I have become more comfortable in the St. Joe environment, becoming more involved in various activities and clubs. I am closer with upperclassmen and underclassmen. Nothing feels more exciting than knowing that one freshman might look up to you and come to you for advice. Meanwhile, you will come to become better friends with the juniors and seniors, looking to them for advice and seeing them as role models. With the help of others, you will conquer sophomore year and your fears and trepidations will seem small and trivial in retrospect. Your upperclassmen have faith in you, and we are here for you no matter what!

Love,

Your future junior— Mary Hayes