Surviving Sophomore Year

So, sophomore year happened.

And we survived! But if you haven’t been a sophomore yet, people aren’t kidding when they say it’s the hardest year of college. Especially for music. Not only do you have that “sophomore slump” thing going on, but you also have an ever-increasing workload so it almost seems like the more you work, the less motivation you have to do it. It’s not a good combination.

But I’m looking back at the whole year now and I’m thinking that if I had to do it again, there’s a few things I might do differently to make it less stressful. So a few bits of advice I wish I took (which I guess really apply to anything):   

1) Don’t over-schedule yourself. It’s great to always want to volunteer for things. It shows a level of commitment and passion for what you do. But remember that time for you is just as important. So do volunteer, but don’t over-volunteer. Learn when you have too much on your plate and devote yourself to doing a few things wonderfully instead of many things at a mediocre level.

2) Limit worrying. We’ve all been there. It’s a stressful week, we’re all tired, and we still have so much work to do. What does the hallway sound like? Worries and complaints. And while most of them are probably justified and we need an outlet for our frustration, I learned something this past semester that I think will apply to everyone:  Let’s not waste our energy complaining when we could just do whatever it is we’re complaining about and get it over with in the amount of time we would spend complaining about it. Let’s use our time wisely.  

3) Be mindful. I was fortunate enough to have a few counseling sessions as an extra credit part of my educational psychology class, and the wonderful woman I met with taught me the importance of mindfulness. This basically means that when you’re doing something, invest yourself completely in it. Either you’re doing something or you’re not. So when you’re in class, you’re in class, and when you’re on break, you’re on a break. You’ll tire more easily if you worry about class during your breaks and thinking about your next break during class. Keep those separate.

And most importantly…

4) Don’t forget why you’re doing this. In the midst of all the stress, remember that you’re doing something you love. Don’t let the 4 (or 5 or 6) years you spend in college scare you away from a lifetime of getting the job you’ve always wanted. Tough as it is, it would probably be harder knowing you gave up something that early on. If you want it, stick with it!

Hope this helps! I know it will help me next year! ♫