Sophomores
The Sophomore Slump. It’s the sinking feeling you obtain when you realize midway through the semester that the entire year may not live up to the same expectations you had freshman year.
The biggest thing you can do to avoid the wretched Sophomore Slump is to not let yourself start the Pity Party. Instead of getting upset that you aren’t getting the grades you wanted, work through it and change your routines to better match your tough classes. If you start to feel overloaded, maybe you don’t take that extra sixth class next semester. In the end, sophomore year is about living life to the fullest, solidifying your friendships, advocating for change and making tough decisions.
Go out of your way to sit in your professor’s office hours and make an impact. You’ll be grateful that you did at the end of your college years when you get great recommendations and lasting relationships with your professors.
Advocate for all the causes you believe in. Sophomore year is the year to discover what you’re passionate about and to solidify what you truly believe in. Make an impact on campus, because outside of college, who knows when you’ll get the chance to do so again?
Freshman year might feel like it’s about fitting in, but sophomore year is about being unique, embracing yourself, making an impact and creating lasting relationships. Don’t squander it by feeling sorry for yourself; instead, embrace the multitude of opportunities Emory has to offer.
– By Ashley Bianco, Features Editor
Juniors
Hey, juniors! You’re halfway done with college. It may seem like you just got here, but you’ll be graduating before you know it.
Junior year can be a scary time, but it’s also exciting. Many juniors have transformational experiences while studying abroad. You (hopefully) have gotten some introductory classes out of the way and now have the opportunity to take classes that truly interest you. Student clubs and organizations often look to their upperclassmen participants to fill leadership roles. Also, since juniors are no longer required to live on campus and may bring cars to school, this is the time to get out and explore more of Atlanta.
This year is brimming with opportunities, but with the “real-world” lurking in the not-too-far distance, it’s also time to get serious. Here are a few tips to help make your junior year a success:
Take classes that interest you. Even if they’re outside your major. If you can’t spare the credit hours, try to branch out within your major by enrolling in classes outside of your concentration.
Continue to make new friends. It’s easy to settle into a friend group and stop meeting new people. However, studying abroad can leave many friend groups split up for a semester or even a year. Whether you’re abroad or at Emory, don’t be afraid to branch out.
Prioritize. We’ve all been there – it’s the first week of freshman year, and everyone is looking to find their place to fit in on campus. Naturally, you sign up for 50 clubs. Junior year is the time to figure out which ones are truly important to you. Better yet, pursue a leadership role that you find meaningful.
Plan ahead. Start thinking early about senior year and beyond. Do you want to graduate early? Is there a job or internship you are particularly interested in? The sooner you start preparing for these types of things, the better.
– By Elizabeth Howell, Managing Editor
Seniors
I’m 20 years old, it’s August and I’m absolutely terrified.
It didn’t hit me until midsummer that I was going to be a senior. Three years in University really does go by quicker than you’d think. All of this pressure – from my parents, brother, extended family, friends – is kind of getting to me. I have ideas, goals and plans. I have started applications, and I have finished applications, but I can’t see my future right now.
But I’m happy. I’m happy and full of fear.
That’s just it: the fear of not really knowing where you’re going to end up, the fear of failing and disappointing all of those who bet on you, the fear of realizing that every- thing you worked for got you to the other side of where you wanted to be.
But I love the fear because it motivates me. The fear keeps me staring at my ceiling, thinking and thinking all night. The fear allows me to separate what’s real and what’s bullshit, because this is rational fear, and it keeps me alert.
I thrive on the fear because if I don’t succeed, at least I know that I tried, and that sentiment is enough to make me try again.
Life’s a gamble; life’s a risk. Life’s full of opportunity costs and the unknown, of beautiful people and horrendous people. Sometimes, it sucks, and you will fall flat on your face. You can plan and plan, have plan A, B, C, etc. and work your ass off to ensure at least one of these plans happen, but sometimes things just don’t work out, and that’s just a part of the game.
College has and will continue to be a embracement of this fear. So for all the rising seniors: let’s play cards.
– By Priyanka Krishnamurthy, Editor in Chief
The Emory Wheel was founded in 1919 and is currently the only independent, student-run newspaper of Emory University. The Wheel publishes weekly on Wednesdays during the academic year, except during University holidays and scheduled publication intermissions.
The Wheel is financially and editorially independent from the University. All of its content is generated by the Wheel’s more than 100 student staff members and contributing writers, and its printing costs are covered by profits from self-generated advertising sales.
