As the school year drags on, many sophomores at Judge Memorial Catholic High School have been feeling something often referred to as the “sophomore slump.” According to Wikipedia, a sophomore slump “is when a sophomore fails to live up to the relatively high standards that occurred during freshman year.” This is something many students can relate to, especially as class difficulty increases and the school year begins to feel long and exhausting.
Sophomore Brynn Copinga said she has been experiencing a form of sophomore slump this year. After working extremely hard during the first semester, she explained that she now feels burnt out. “I really just don’t have a lot of motivation to do anything,” she said, including school, work, or even spending time with friends and family. Copinga also discussed how balancing skiing and homework has made things more stressful, since she wakes up early and spends most of her day busy, leaving her with little time or energy to socialize.
Another sophomore, Lyvia Candiloria, also shared her experience with sophomore slump. She said it often feels like she is just waiting for the school year to end, even though she is still trying to enjoy it. The biggest factors influencing her slump are sports and friendships. She explained that basketball is physically exhausting and that friendships have been changing a lot during sophomore year as everyone begins finding their own groups.
Both students agreed that the workload this year feels different compared to freshman year. Copinga said she sometimes questions the purpose of all the work, especially when studying hard for tests. Candiloria explained that while the workload itself may not be heavier, the classes are more challenging and teaching styles vary more. When asked what advice they would give to incoming sophomores, Copinga suggested being prepared for the second semester of AP Seminar, while Candiloria advised students to find their real friends and to “just stay strong.” Overall, sophomore slump appears to be a real and shared experience for many students at Judge Memorial, proving that it is more than just a myth.
