Still Standing After Sophomore Slump

TRUTH! source

It wasn't until the end of this semester when I was sitting in the Career Center's office reflecting on every tough decision I had this spring that I realized I was going through the sophomore slump.

Family, friends, academics, career--these all became connected points of pain and progress throughout the year. However, when I think about it, this time of frustration and subsequent self-reflection can hit anyone at anytime--freshman, junior, or senior year. So whether you have gone through the slump and survived, are going through it now, or feel you may never have to, I hope you find some part of this blog post as helpful!

So what is sophomore slump, anyway?

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Most people would say that sophomore slump occurs this year because, for most, it's the first year when reality hits. There's a kind of shiny newness to freshman year that makes everything seem amazing--the new people you meet, the new organizations you join, and maybe a new way you present yourself offers a lot of hope and excitement for the future.

While I'm not saying that all of these things occur to every freshman, there is a level of excitement, hope, and almost a relief that "it's only freshman year"--most freshman aren't expected to have the best GPA, figured out their major, or have an internship at this point.

In that case, what makes sophomore year so pivotal is that some harsh realizations may be setting in. Consider these scenarios:

• You and your friends aren't getting along the same way that you did freshman year
• You're gaining more responsibility in the clubs/organizations you're involved with
• You're regretting some grades you received or classes you took freshman year
• There's more pressure to do something impressive over the summer
• You thought that you'd feel at home on campus by now
• You're confused about your major
• You realize that after this year, you're half-way through college

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Sorry if I bummed you out there, but these are all things that I've grappled with this year and what many sophomores I've spoken to have dealt with to some degree. As you become more critical of your choices, including who you've chosen to spend your time with and what you've chosen to spend your time doing, it's completely understandable to feel frustrated, sad, or anxious during the year, making it harder for you to work on the problems that are affecting you.

However, these realizations can also be inspiring. After this year, I've been forced to ask myself: what do I want from myself, my friends, and my college experience?

But now, I think it's time to apply this to the career world. During the midst of all this confusion, frustration, and realization, how can you make sure that your professional growth doesn't overwhelm you but empowers you?

Learning to say no

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This was a tough one. As a perpetual "nice person," it's always been difficult for me to turn down an opportunity or say "no" to someone who needed me. However, when thinking about my career decisions in the context of "What do I want from my college experience? Will this really help me and make me happy?" I had to learn to be a little selfish and do what's best for me. Learning to say "no" is a really important skill to help you prioritize what's important and make sure you're not spending time on things/people that maybe aren't worth it.

I needed to put myself and enjoying my time as a higher priority than it normally was if I wanted to continue being involved and working hard.

What makes you happy?

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For me, this is the same way of asking "what are your priorities?" but thinking about it this way helps me way more.

Part of how I learned to finally say no to some things going on in my life was when I asked myself "Am I happy with my college experience right now?" And honestly, between classes, jobs, and being a part of two publications, people definitely weren't seeing a lot of my happy side. With only two years left a Tufts, I decided that I needed to put myself and enjoying my time as higher priorities than they'd normally be, if I wanted to continue being involved and working hard. If anything, sophomore slump taught me that what I really wanted from college was a balance, and I could achieve it if I was a little easier on myself.

There's more than one way to get to where you want to be

THIS may have to be a priority...and I'm okay with that! source

Again, that pesky, threatening realization that I'MHALFWAYDONEWITHCOLLEGEAHHHHH! (*regains composure for beloved readers*)

It's really tempting at this point to keep going on the path that you know will get you from point A to point B--whether that means continuing a major you're bored of, being involved in organizations you want to get out of, or moving up in clubs that you feel hurt more than help you.

However, remember that you always have an opportunity to say no or prioritize what makes you happy, and if that means trying something new, doing something unexpected, or taking a step back--do it! It's not too late to make a DETOUR and take a new course of action. There are so many ways to get that dream job or internship--and in the end, it's important to figure out your own path, and not one that you feel pressured into.

Come on, Junior year! source

In my first blog post, I talked about the etymology of a sophomore being "wise fool." I correctly predicted the difficulty of dealing with the unanswered questions that I would face this year. However, I didn't expect the excitement of being able to make my own decisions and forge my own path.

So thank you sophomore year for (painfully) teaching me these invaluable lessons. It's been a very eventful year not only thinking critically of myself and my decisions, but also being able to cover other students and professionals' success and advice as they navigate the career world. Now that I know that dealing with new decisions and different kinds of change will just be a part of life and moving forward with your career, I *think* I'm ready to take on more--JUNIOR YEAR: LET'S GO!

Thanks for readings!
Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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Sophomores: Don't Fear Uncertainty - Explore It!

Hello! My name is Nina Joung, and I am one of the Social Media/Blogger Interns for the Career Center. I’m a sophomore in the School of Arts and Sciences with an undecided major. (Shout out to indecisive people! Whoo!) When I’m not thinking about ways to bring the professional world a little closer to Tufts students, I’m editing the features section of the Tufts Daily, tutoring rowdy 4th graders at the Medford Boys and Girls’ Club, or looking out for my residents as an RA in Haskell.

Me at last year's Tuftonia's Day (Yes, I always look this fabulous)

Returning to Tufts as a sophomore, I feel an exciting mix of familiarity and confusion. While I've become acquainted with the campus, its resources, and the students that make it special, there are so many people, places, and decisions that are unknown to me. (For example, I've never been to the MFA, which is ridiculous because it's free for Tufts students!!) My undecided major is one example of the uncertainty in my life, and the pressure to make a decision is a definitive part of sophomore year.

Apparently, these contrasting feelings are already described in the word "sophomore." The etymology of the word “sophomore” breaks down to mean “wise fool.” Basically, a sophomore is someone who is overconfident in their level of intelligence but still immature.

After one year of college (theodysseyonline.com)

I mean, in my defense, I learned a lot after a year at Tufts: I’ve learned about the ins and outs of campus (most notably: the hidden ice cream bin at Carm!!) and became acquainted with the multiple resources offered on campus. The Tufts Career Center stands out as a resource that most first years don't utilize but one that helped me immensely. Without the Tufts Career Center, I wouldn't have gotten my summer internship at the NYC tech startup SeamlessDocs. Thanks to the tips, guidance, and databases at the Career Center, I spent my summer practicing content marketing, email marketing research, and web design - all while working closely with the company CEO. Additionally, I got to work alongside the most creative, hard-working, and friendly group of young professionals I’ve ever met whilst experiencing the casual yet intense startup environment.

However, that doesn't mean I'm going to follow the "sophomore" definition of naïve overconfidence. On the contrary, I know that while my experiences and knowledge are limited, the questions and the unknowns are infinite. This fact will probably keep me up some nights (or most nights), but it also encourages me to seek answers.

If only uncertainty looked this good on all of us *sigh*
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So what can a “wise fool” bring to this blog? Well, oddly enough, I plan to live up to both parts of my "sophomore" title. I hope my past experiences and familiarity with the Career Center and student life will give me the tools to answer the questions I've had, currently have, and will experience.

"Maturity is the capability to endure uncertainty" ~John Finley

Uncertainty isn't something we should fear - it's something we should explore. That's how we learn and grow into the mature adults we strive to be. I look forward to learning and growing in the professional world alongside you all.

Thanks for reading! Nina Joung
Class of 2018

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