Sophomoritis

Adriana Perez

What is Sophomoritis? Some people think it’s fake, an excuse to put off work, because the only -itis that exists is Senioritis, right?

Nope. Sophomoritis. It’s real. Because now life is real. Everything now counts. And now we sophomores have to figure out what we want to do, who we are and who we want to be. At least, that’s how it feels. School feels more like a burden, and trying to figure out your place while trying to juggle AP and Honors classes, conservatory classes, performances and relationships can be too much. I remember thinking last year, “Freshman year wasn’t so bad, how could sophomore year be that hard?” but we only have two months left in the year and 2026 doesn’t feel so far now. It all feels so daunting, trying to prepare for the future when it feels like it’s rushing onto you.

But the thing is, it’s not that serious. Life is going to continue whether you have a 4.0 or a 2.0. The paths that are always shown are not the only ones available. So enjoy your sophomore year, go to dances with your friends and take classes that you’re interested in. Look for what you want to do, not what people expect from you or what would be the most beneficial. There’s a career for everything nowadays and art can pay the bills, no matter what your parents say. And if it’s not art that you want to make a career out of, then there will be something else, trust me.

Sophomore year is the year where we feel like we need to have everything prepared, but it should be the year where we get to explore. Remember that, and if you lose your motivation, find people who will help you stay on track. I promise you, having a support system is probably one of the most important things you will need. High school might not be the best four years of your life, but it will be the biggest learning experience, and that’s ok, because you have time, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

So, to finish this off, my fellow sophomores, juniors, seniors, freshmen and even the middle schoolers, let me leave you with this. We’re all going through it together, so whoever came up with the idea that only senioritis exists is completely wrong. You could have junioritis. You could have freshmanitis. You could have whatever-grade-you’re-in-itis because what it really is is a combination of burnout and the idea that none of it matters anymore. But I promise you, it gets better. Take that nap during lunch, have a mental health day, ask for an extension if everything starts to pile up. Use that block seven to do whatever you need, whether it’s to talk to a teacher, catch up on that assignment, retake that test or just rest between classes. Do whatever you need to do for yourself because, trust me, we’re all going through it and we’re all going to get through it.