Every year is different. Every year is a new challenge. When I first got into Uni, I expected every school year to be more difficult than the previous one. After subbie year, I was ready to embrace the challenges of “real high school.”

Sophomore year is the halfway point of my Uni career. From what I’ve heard, it’s supposed to be one of the easiest years in terms of schoolwork. When I heard this account from other students, I felt slightly relieved toward entering sophomore year, but also I didn’t want this to be a “blow-off year.”

To try and make this year more challenging, I decided to take a few electives that seemed worthwhile, journalism being among them. Also, I do some sports and other extracurricular activities. In addition to the required classes, these optional classes and activities make my school day more fun as well as a challenge.

I think that taking on extra challenges was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead of hanging around in the hallways doing nothing, like some of my friends, I feel like I’m doing something more meaningful with my school day. I get very excited thinking about the rest of my high school years and what new things I can do.

To all you people who just hang around the school doing nothing, I have a piece of advice … challenge yourself.