3 Ways My Sophomore Year of College Totally Transformed My College Experience (In the Best Way!)

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So much of the college advice I see online is only targeted at freshmen: urging them to get involved, put themselves out there, and say yes to new experiences. Don't get me wrong, these are great tips for freshman year , which can be an overwhelming time, but the transition into sophomore year isn't any less intimidating, significant, or exciting.

I'm now a senior at the University of Vermont, and as I reflect on the past few years of college, I realize just how transformative my sophomore year was. If 19-year-old Mia were standing in front of me looking for advice, I would tell her to anticipate change : My friendships, interests, routines, and even my goals looked completely different by the time I moved out at the end of my sophomore year, and that's okay.

Your sophomore year might look nothing like you expect it to — and that's the beauty of it. Of course, not every college experience is the same, but to any anxious sophomores reading this, my message to you is that it's okay if you don't have everything figured out yet. Take a deep breath, don't worry so much, and know that your life is likely going to change this year (whether in big ways or small). If you're looking for guidance on how to get through it all, here's how I learned to embrace the changes in my life and truly enjoy my sophomore year.

I realized I wanted to study something completely different.

When I first started at UVM, I declared psychology as my major. I was interested in the field, but, if I'm honest, I wasn't exactly passionate about it. Part of me felt pressured to declare a field of study simply to seem like I had things figured out.

During my sophomore year, I began taking political science classes that genuinely piqued my interest. I found myself surrounded by people who shared many of the same curiosities and passions as me. Before long, I realized I was much more excited about my political science classes than I had ever been about my psychology courses. I eventually switched my major to political science, and three years later, I'm still taking classes that excite me. I specifically love learning about international relations, and now hope to travel abroad with the Peace Corps after I graduate !

I am so glad I gave myself the freedom to reconsider what I thought I wanted. Changing my major sophomore year reminded me that I didn't need to have my future figured out at 18 years old. Sometimes, you just have to follow what interests you and trust that you'll figure out the rest along the way.

I found my place outside the classroom.

I became much more involved on campus during my second year of college, taking on leadership roles and putting myself out there. I was voted Vice President of Inclusion for my sorority and became the social media manager for the UVM branch of an online magazine. These experiences pushed me to get involved in ways I hadn't expected. It was intimidating at first, but I learned to take things as they came.

I began discovering new passions and rediscovering old ones, from writing and working out to planning sorority events. Allowing my interests to shape my college life helped me develop confidence and become more comfortable trying new things. Looking back, sophomore year gave me the freedom to explore what actually made me excited instead of worrying so much about what I thought I was supposed to be doing.

I allowed my friendships to change, too.

Perhaps the biggest changes I experienced during my sophomore year were in my friendships. I started spending much more time with my sorority sisters — going to concerts, hiking, or going downtown — and many of the people I grew closer to that year are still some of my best friends today.

Some friendships shifted in ways that were difficult to navigate at the time, but I've learned that it's completely normal for your friend group to change throughout college. Sometimes you just have to let your relationships evolve and trust you'll find your people along the way. Try to spend time with friends who fill your cup, and take time to explore your personal wants and needs rather than always doing what you think you have to.

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