Being an underclassman is a blessing and a curse. You’re among the youngest students in school, but at the same time, you are pushed to set a good example for the incoming freshmen. Truth be told, there are some pretty major decisions to be made in your first two years of high school: deciding which colleges to look into, trying to figure out with which friends to spend Saturday nights with and choosing your classes. Have no fear! Your fellow Sequoits are here to help with a few things to remember as you embark on your first two years of being a Sequoit.

You’ve got time. There is no doubt that the next four years we have will go quickly, but remember to let yourself breathe. It’s a good idea to look into college, jobs and other responsibilities, but giving yourself time to be a kid and let loose is a must. Sometimes we need to take a break from competing for the best grades and catch a movie with some friends.

Get involved. One of the best feelings is the unity you feel when surrounded by fellow Sequoits at various sporting events, vigorously cheering on teams; this is a time when everyone, no matter how different they are from one another, can come together with a common goal: victory. However, sporting events aren’t the only ways to get involved in the school. We are a lucky group of students with tons of community and district wide clubs and societies to join, such as Tri-M Music Honor Society, Student Council and Interact Club. Attending school events, like dances, is another great way to feel like you’re a part of the Sequoit legacy. If you missed the past Homecoming, there is a winter dance in February and Prom in May. There is still enough time to show off your best dance moves. A little word of advice: attire shop before the rush. Overall, we as students get busy with school, work and home life, but you can still be involved by partaking in events during our three spirit weeks, like dressing up and participating in raffles.

Keep your eyes on the prize. These next four years are meant to be great and full of possibilities, but a fairly large obstacle for underclassmen is finding balance—the one thing you can’t be truly successful without. The first few weeks of a new semester are some of the most stressful weeks in a student’s life. Missing an assignment or bombing a quiz can have a huge effect on your grade. You must stay focused. There is an unwritten theory that your first two years of high school don’t matter, but that, my friend, simply is not the truth. There are a lot of improvements to be made in these years, along with a lot of preparation for major stepping stones such as SAT and AP exams.

Writing this piece as a sophomore was more difficult than I imagined it to be. Over the past year I’ve found that these are the strategies that work to keep balance in my life, and I can only hope that they bring the same success to you all. These two years are full of learning experiences and plenty of adventures. It becomes our duty to grab ahold of these experiences as they happen and make the most out of our time as Sequoits.