Lessons From Sophomore Year

 My second year of college is officially over and it was....good, bad and everything in between. Looking back, it was a great year but I certainly hit a low point around January/February. This time, though it wasn't fun, actually helped me learn a lot about myself and just life in general. So while I don't like to get too philosophical and adivce-y on the blog (I just don't feel like I'm qualified--I definitely don't have life figured out!) I wanted to share just a few tidbits of wisdom I learned along the way:


1. When it comes to friends, quality > quantity 
I know, I know, you've this over and over again right. You have boards on Pinterest with some derivative of this advice re-pinned thousands of times. This is a lesson we all hear from the beginning, but, in the end, we all need to have our own experiences to realize just how true it is. I finally figured it out this year, but it definitely wasn't easy. 

2. You don't deserve to be treated like $%&*  
This goes along with #1 but toxic friendships are a waste of your time. Get rid of those people ASAP. It won't be easy and it won't be fun but it will all be worth it. Trust me. I could rant on this topic for hours so maybe I should just write a separate blog post for this doozy... 

3. Getting a 'B' is a blessing 
In high school, getting a B = failing. Period. Now, I'm totally comfortable getting a B. In fact, I think it's fantastic! Whenever I calculate my grades mid-semester, I always think they're going to be way worse than they actually turn out to be. I instantly jump to the worst case scenario and have a panic attack calculating how hard the hit to my GPA will be. But seriously, relax! There is more to life than grades and GPA. 

4. It's also ok to get a 'C' 
Now, I'm not saying I strive to get C's. If I'm being really honest, getting anything below a B does really bother me. Obviously always try your best, but know there might be that one class where you best just isn't good enough (*cough* Calculus *cough*).  Lots of smart people fail classes, it's just a fact of life. You're human and you're going to make mistakes, but one bad grade doesn't define your entire college career. So give yourself a break!

5. Constantly comparing yourself to others will get you nowhere
This feels a bit hypocritical of me to write, because it's something I still struggle with on the daily. But truly, this is a complete waste of time and an insult to yourself. Yet, I still do it! If you ever figure out how to truly master this, please, tell me how. 

6. Just relax, it will be fine 
Again with the hypocrisy thing, I still struggle with this on the daily. I'm the queen of over-thinking things and my mind always jumps to the worst case scenario. Some nights, I would lie awake at night just thinking of everything that could go wrong. Yes, that is horribly unhealthy, but I can't help the way my brain works sometimes. So starting now, I'm making a conscious effort to just chill out. Who's with me?



7. It's alright to say "no"
Don't want to go out to that stinky, sleazy club? Don't want to drive your friends around like you're a school bus? Then don't. Just say no. People pleasing your way through life really won't get you as far as you think it will.


8. You can try and do everything, but you shouldn't. Refer to #6 and focus on doing a few things, but doing them well 
 This year, I kind of went into freak out mode. Everyone around me was busy with clubs and jobs and internships and I wasn't doing anything. So I started doing everything, and all at once. Big mistake. Choosing one or two things and really committing to them wholeheartedly is usually the way to go. Believe me, the whole "quality is better than quantity" thing applies to many different aspects of life.

9. Do what makes you happy 
Don't like your major? Change it. In the end, doing what you love is really the most important thing. Don't let some stupid Yahoo! news article tell you that you'll never get a job if you major in Psychology. Make (well-informed) decisions for yourself, and don't let the negative opinions of others push you to do something you hate. In the end, no six-figure paycheck is worth that.


So that's pretty much it! But now, I'm dying to know your opinions! Do you agree/disagree with my advice? What other lessons do you think are important? Tell me in the comments!

xo Sydney