and (arguably) the better one

Sophomore year is like being the second middle child. You’re not the newest or the youngest anymore, but you’re not fully grown either. 

You return to college filled with last year’s confusion, fear, excitement, and exploration. It remains in a box in your brain labeled “First year: Fragile”. This time, you’re carrying these experiences over to your sophomore year, 2nd year, upperclassman part 1, or however you wish to call it. 

Returning to campus feels warm and nostalgic (our generation’s thing for nostalgia is real, and I totally get it). You no longer need a campus map to find the library or dining hall. You don’t miss your old study spot back home when you’re reviewing at Milstein. This place has quietly become your second home, just in case the first year didn’t make that clear enough.

Sophomore year comes with its perks, like how…

• You realize that this isn’t all new to you anymore: papers, exams, labs. You’re more familiar with how fast-paced college is. Classes slightly pick up the pace but luckily for you, you know which study habits to avoid and replace (Pomodoro technique, I love you).
• You’re able to decipher CULPA’s mixed reviews and ultimately pick a class you end up enjoying.
• You say your goodbyes to your family and friends back home, and it becomes easier every time. You designate specific hours of the day for long FaceTimes and plan road trips on Fridays.
• You get more comfortable asking questions or presenting in front of larger audiences, and approaching professors feels much more exciting. You let yourself be known, your personality is seen. 
• You’re getting dinner with your friends almost every night, complaining, laughing, studying; you realize that you’re growing through the highs and lows of college together. 

You’ve returned with more knowledge and experience, but you’re still growing and making mistakes along the way; it’s completely normal and a part of the perks of being a sophomore.