The Sophomore Slump: Your Voice

By Arabella Chamberlain

Have you ever heard of the term "Sophomore Slump"? Some people associate this with sports, others have never even heard of it. But what about in academics? Students on college campuses across the country struggle with their sophomore year of college - why is that? And what can we do to change that? In the following 8-part series, we're going to take a peek behind the "sophomore slump" and how to escape it.

Your Voice:

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Have you ever felt like Ariel, washed ashore with no voice and unable to express your own thoughts and ideas? I'm about to get real philosophical with The Little Mermaid. One of the hardest things students can struggle with during their sophomore year is finding their own identity, figuring out who they are, becoming their "true self." Sounds cheesy, right?

It's true though. Everyone struggles to find themselves at some point, but in particular, angsty college sophomores faced with the crippling pressure of picking a major which could set you on the path to your future career... no biggie though, right? It's completely normal to be a little stressed when faced with this decision.

What can you do though to figure all this out then? Honestly, there's no magic formula or quick-n-easy worksheet to tell you who you are and what you want - if there was things would be pretty boring. But here are a few suggestions to help you find your voice without visiting an evil sea witch who wants to steal your prince.

• Try new things: Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort (sea)shell. Even if you feel like you've missed the boat to try out a new club or take a class in a different topic than you normally take, forget about that! Cast a wide net and just go to one meeting of that club you always thought looked cool, take a intro class to something you know nothing about to fill some Gen. Ed. requirements, and remember it's okay if you don't like it, but you'll never know 'til you try.
• Speak up and reach out: You'll never find your voice if you never use it. If you just live your life as a passive observer, will you ever truly live? Speak up about the things your passionate about. Does something get you fired up to share with others? SHARE WITH OTHERS. Advocate and educate about things that matter to you. Inspire others about the things inspire you. It seems so simple, yet so many of us constantly find ourselves sitting on the sidelines when we could be jumping in and taking the plunge.
• Write up a list of your interests: (Even the ones that seem to have nothing to do with your current major!) Grab a piece of paper and a pencil and start scribbling down things you find interesting until you're swimming in ideas. It can be anything from Biology and Accounting to Star Wars and baking. Try to see if things have any crossover. Can you combine your love of baking and Chemistry? Or what about your passion for writing and Star Wars? (Fan-fiction, here we come...) Figure out what your passionate about. And then...
• Reach out to your advisors and professors: Find out what you can to pursue the things your passionate about. What can you do to include your interests in your education? Don't just pick a major that you think will be easy; pick a major that you know you'll still love years from now. There's an ocean of opportunities awaiting you. You can always learn new things if you change your mind further on down the line, but in this moment, where do you see yourself happy in a few years? Think about that when deciding your major. (And don't feel tied down - There's plenty of other fish in the ocean!)
• Don't be afraid to go against the flow: Last, but most certainly not least, be true to yourself. Life is far too short to spend your time trying to live up to someone else's standards or focus on being someone else, instead of just being unabashedly YOU. Live your life, not someone else's life. Do the things that make you happy, inspire you, drive you. Follow your dreams - who cares if you don't have a road map? Make your own.

I know this may not help some of you, but to be perfectly honest, I don't have it all figured out either. Hopefully though, this offers some ideas to get you started, but I can't figure it all out for you. Only you can decide who you are, never forget that. If you didn't notice, I'm the kind of person who brings up The Little Mermaid once and then spends an entire article sneaking in water puns. Perhaps not all of you appreciated that, but so what? Cry me a river. Always be true to yourself.

More Information:
Student Experiences in the Second Year: Advancing Strategies for Success Beyond the First Year of College

Have you got it all figured out and you know exactly who you are?

Absolutely! I've got it all together. (Give me a call. I need tips.)

Kinda... Sometimes I don't know who I am.

Not really. I can't decide what outfit to wear in the morning - I have no idea who I am.

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