Driver’s Manual to Sophomore Year
Freshman year is like riding a bicycle without your training wheels for the first time. At first glance, you were probably overwhelmed at the prospect of changing friend groups, attending harder classes, and being in a different ambiance. However, as the weeks progressed, you realized that a new environment isn’t so scary after all.
Sophomore year is like learning how to drive (ironically most sophomores get their permit this year). You have been accustomed to the parts and motions of the vehicle, but the learning experience will be tougher this time around. Most high school students are confused about the learning curve of sophomore year regarding if they are doing everything in their power to be productive. With junior year so close, sophomores should have a certain idea/knowledge of what they plan to do in this upcoming year of high school. Planning is the key to success.
So, read this driver’s manual to sophomore year to fully analyze and comprehend how to pass the driver’s test of success in your high school career.
Fall of Sophomore Year
As classes are getting increasingly harder, look at your course load and evaluate if your classes accurately represent your interests. There’s no point in taking all AP courses if you are not genuinely interested in taking them.
Talk to your guidance counselor about your goals for this year. Additionally, seek help to examine if you are on track to obtain all the credits you need for graduation (ex: health, fine arts, computer credits). Discuss your four-year plan with the counselor to see if you are on the right track.
Register and take the PSAT to become aware of your strengths and weaknesses with standardized testing. Seek tutoring if your score is not in your desired range and/or your composite score is not high enough for the college of your choice.
Join a diverse number of clubs and extracurricular activities that you are passionate about and that can assist with developing skills in an area you are interested in. Sometimes, in freshman year, students aren’t aware of all the clubs they can be in. So, make sure you explore all of your options to potentially discover a new hobby or passion!
Spring of Sophomore Year
Consider asking your family for a potential college visit vacation over the summer to start conversing about your curiosities and interests about college life and campuses. You can visit local colleges close by or take a vacation and stop by certain colleges you have been interested in.
Think about applying to summer camps, shadowing professionals, or taking on a job to divulge yourself in a field you are curious about. Immersing yourself in a certain field can be extremely enlightening.
Register for preparation courses for the ACT/SAT to help increase your score. If you are satisfied with a score on the ACT, then try out the SAT (or vice versa). While they are both standardized tests, they are actually quite different and some individuals think that one is more applicable to their learning experience. Thus, take both (at least once) to try out each type of test. Start making composite/subject score goals for each test to create a threshold for what you want to be able to achieve in the upcoming year.
Get Behind the Wheel
Core subjects are crucial to understanding what field you would like to pursue when senior year comes. Thus, when participating in class and taking notes in math, history, language arts, and science, be thinking about if you would like to spend a lifetime working in that specific subject. Additionally, get comfortable talking to your high school counselor (and college counselor if you have one), so you can speak with a trusted adult about potential opportunities and future.
Electives matter. Suddenly, instead of taking electives just for fun or an easy A, you should be taking classes that you are genuinely excited about and is aligned with your interests. Get behind the wheel of your learning. As a sophomore in your high school, you should be able to be the master of your own learning. Some great websites for high school timelines include C2Education and campusexplorerlover.
Start becoming more independent. You are not the same vulnerable and new freshman anymore! Be more confident with yourself and become decisive. Being the driver of your own success will create a much larger magnitude for happiness in your future.
