From the Slump to the Summit

McDonald

Ihad never heard of second-year slump until I was in it. Also known as the sophomore slump, the all-too-familiar phenomenon occurs when the transition from high school to university is complete, leaving second-year students with the expectation to meld with the academic world while simultaneously balancing extracurricular involvement, some semblance of a social life, and maybe the heaviest weight of all, their own expectations. My first year was unbelievably successful. It was such a good time that after struggling through the first semester of my second year, I feared I peaked too early. What happened?

Second year, first semester. My nemesis. Suddenly everything became extremely difficult. No matter how hard I worked or how much effort I put in, my grades were not where I wanted them to be. It felt as though even if I worked all day long, there was simply not enough time to get everything done. It seemed as though everyone around me had it all figured out. Yeah, it was still tough sometimes, but they seemed to be doing so well. I am not in my first year anymore. Why could I not just get it together?

I am not alone. Many students report feelings of confusion, stress, and exhaustion when facing at least another two years until graduation as they begin to