I am sitting in class and suddenly a scantron is slapped onto my desk with a fat, red 50% scrawled on top. I failed a test. The bell rings and I go to my teacher, begging for a way to make up the point, but I am turned away. I am told that I am no longer new to high school and that there will be no hand-holding this year. Freshman year is over. All the fun and excitement has faded and I am left with a dull and numbing feeling that I am not even close to the end.
Unlike all the other grades, as a sophomore at PHS I have nothing to look forward to during my second year of high school. I am no longer a freshman, new to high school and excited to become part of it. I am not a junior, looking forward to finishing my last real year of high school and moving onto being a senior. I am not even close to being a senior, being less stressed about high school and looking forward to college. I have fallen into the bottomless pit of sophomore year.
Some people say that freshmen have it the worst, but I disagree. Freshman year was a whirlwind of new and exciting things. For the first time, I took part in events like homecoming week and rallies. I was introduced to block scheduling, and was thrilled to not have to attend seven classes every day. As a freshman, teachers knew I was adjusting to high school and gave me more leeway for my mistakes. But being a sophomore, teachers expect me to know the procedures and take full responsibility for everything I do.
I am busier and more stressed as a sophomore than I ever was as a freshman. My classes are without a doubt more rigorous. The material is harder and the teachers are tougher. With all these things to think about, I cannot help but feel like I am a step behind everyone around me. Everything I do will be looked at by colleges and the pressure of being perfect if present in everything I do.
Although I understand that junior year is difficult as well, junior year comes with a lot more perks than sophomore year. Juniors are able to take part in 20’s night, the upper-classmen trip, and winter ball. Not to mention the added bonus of being finally being an upper-classman. Although junior year is rigorous, there are more fun and exciting events offered by the school and ASB.
No doubt, senior year is the best year in high school. Sophomore year cannot even compare to senior year. Although seniors face the dreaded college application process, by second semester, they do not have a care in the world. Seniors are given the opportunity to relax and actually enjoy high school. They have senior picnic, winter ball, senior prank, and prom. They have the most fun and are able to get away with anything, simply because they are seniors.
To me, it seems like sophomore year is the worst year of high school. I am stuck on the sidelines watching everyone else have fun because there is nothing out there for me as a sophomore. I understand that as a sophomore, I have plenty of high school years to enjoy, but with the nothing to look forward to this year I feel like have been forgotten. The sophomore class should be given something to anticipate and motivate us though the school year. We need something to make this year special and make memories that we can cherish for the rest of our lives.
Contact Kelli Nguyen at knguyen@tphnews.com
