Dear Son:
You might feel like this year is no big deal. It’s not your first year of high school, and it’s not your last. You won’t be getting lost in the halls like the freshmen or taking standardized tests for your college applications. Nor will you be waiting to hear about college acceptances.
But there are lots of reasons why your sophomore year is still special.
Why Sophomore Year is Sweet:
1. Driving
This is the year that you will learn how to drive and obtain a license. There’s a whole new world of freedom waiting for you (and me!) My prayer is that you are safe, whether it is you or your friends who are driving. Don’t do anything stupid. I’m serious. But enjoy this new privilege.
2. Diving into activities
Your sophomore year is when there will be things like dances and pep rallies to attend, clubs to join, service projects to complete, and Homecoming floats to build. Whether you choose to participate in some or all of these, I hope you soak up the high school experiences each offers.
3. Dedicating time to sports
In tenth grade, you will play high school sports. I’m so proud that you joined a new sports team this fall. Sophomore year is the perfect time to jump in and try something new. I hope you savor learning how to play as much as I enjoy watching you. I also can’t wait to watch you play the other sports you have loved since you were a little kid. What a thrill to see you pursue them for so long and to know that they are your passions. May you stay injury-free and continue to grow in teamwork, physical skills, and leadership that result from playing sports.
4. Determining academic interests
Tenth grade is when you will tackle more in your core subjects and try out new classes. Your electives are so different from what I chose years ago: Intro to Engineering and that CAD class. Never mind that I had to Google “What does CAD stand for?” to learn it was Computer-Aided Drawing. I might not know a lot, but I do know that these electives reflect your growing interests and that pleases me. It is exciting to think that they will prepare you for an internship or a job one day.
5. Doing your best to tolerate your parents
This is the year that you will keep rolling your eyes at me. So, I didn’t know what CAD meant. I also did not know what “NGL” meant when you used it in a text. (That’s “Not Gonna Lie,” parents!) But I do hope that your sophomore year you not only tolerate me, but you still tell me you love me, give me awesome bear hugs, and chat about those levels in your video game.
6. Developing
Perhaps, this could be the year that you grow into a man. Some of your friends seemed to reach this milestone years ago, but everyone is on his own schedule. If those pictures of your dad when he was a sophomore are any indication, then you might grow out of those pants I just bought you within a month. And you’ll need a razor soon.
7. Dating
This is the year that you may ask someone out. Maybe she’ll say yes, and you’ll go on a date. Maybe not. If it happens, it happens. This is not the year to worry about being single.
Sophomore year is the time to enjoy it with your friends, to eat an entire pizza by yourself and not gain an ounce, and to sleep until noon on weekends.
This is the year. Your sophomore year.
May it be as amazing as you are.
