Freshman year was pure nerves. Most of us walked in on day one expecting to get shoved into lockers like in the movies. Instead, what we got was the giant history reader everyone swore they would keep up with. Spoiler: we didn’t. By the third week it was already collecting dust while we prayed not to bomb another 40 question quiz. But at least freshman year had that “new high school energy.” Everything felt big and exciting, like we were stepping into a whole new world.

Now we are here as sophomores. People told us it would be easier. Yeah… right. Week one and Breno and Ms. Colsato already threw us into A morte e a morte de Quincas Berro d’Água. We are still trying to figure out how someone can manage to die not once, not twice, but three times. If that is a hint of what is ahead, buckle up.

This is the classic sophomore slump. The thrill of high school is gone, the work feels heavier, and we are no longer the baby freshmen. But we are also not juniors or seniors who get the fun and the freedom. We are stuck in the in between.

But here is the thing: we will survive. Every quiz, every confusing book, every long night studying. We will get through it the way we always do, together. Complaining, laughing, maybe crying a little, but pushing forward anyway. Because if high school has taught us anything, it is this: the assignments get harder, but so do we.

The slump will not last forever. Soon we will look back and even miss the days when we pretended to be upperclassmen just to buy snacks during lunch.

Hang tight, sophomores. The year is just getting started.