Students at Loy Norrix work to keep their grades up daily, but problems can arise and stunt a student’s ability to succeed in school. One of the more common occurrences is often referred to as “Sophomore Slump.” It is a name heard quite often in schools around the country, but many may not know what it is and how it can affect students.
According to Harvard University, sophomore slump is a well documented period of burnout a student can experience during their sophomore year.
In a survey of 79 Loy Norrix students, over 78% said they have heard of the term, and nearly 70% said they have experienced sophomore slump.
The slump is most common amongst sophomores due to the excitement of the first year wearing off and increasing workload, according to The Core Collaborative.
Sophomore slump can also cause a lack of sleep, which can further worsen class performance. Sophomore Mace Rouse is a student at Loy Norrix who has experienced sophomore slump.
“I would get up significantly later than normally and I wouldn’t do any work,” said Rouse.
Sophomore slump can also be caused by factors such as home life, increased workload and pressure, according to the same article. Not only can sophomore slump cause dropping grades, but it can impact attendance too. Students that are experiencing sophomore slump are often more likely to skip classes, according to the survey.
“I would kind of stop showing up for class,” said Rouse.
25% of respondents said they had an increase in skipping class, 84% experienced a loss of motivation, 66% had a drop in grades and 71% had a harder time sleeping.
Out of class, students still have work. Homework is an essential part of a school, but sophomore slump can make it much harder to complete. Sophomore Josiah Joslin is another student who has struggled with the infamous slump.
“I had a lack of wanting to do homework, I would say extreme laziness,” Joslin said.
Overcoming this slump can be difficult as not all students have the support they need.
“It can be very hard, it takes a lot of effort and skill that not everyone has the access to,” said Rouse.
There are a few things that can help a student overcome their slump, including support from counselors on campus, seeking help from therapy, practicing self care and building routines and schedules.
“Getting into routines and generally finding little things to look forward to helps a lot. Also having a therapist or someone to talk to really helps,” said Rouse.
Although sophomore year can be difficult for many reasons, including sophomore slump, students at Norrix have the ability to reach out and get help in many different ways.
Reaching out to a counselor, a parent, therapist or the Health Center can all be helpful ways of breaking past the slump and succeeding in your academics.
