New Trier sophomores are experiencing what is often called “the sophomore slump”—a period marked by low motivation, fatigue, and anxiety due to various high school stressors such as boredom, academic stress, and lack of sleep.

“Sophomore year, there’s not a lot of new things to experience and school kind of loses its appeal,” New Trier sophomore Elise Fontana said. “It’s not like school has gotten harder—you’re just kind of stuck.”

After the initial novelty of high school fades, some students struggle to find time for the repetitive and exhausting routines of homework, tests, and extracurriculars—especially when work accumulates each day. 

“I usually have to stay up late to finish my assignments, which affects my ability to do well in school,” said sophomore Chloe Abendroth.

Class of ‘28 Adviser Chair Molly Lombardi describes the transition to the Winnetka campus as being a big adjustment, especially with increased workload.

“I think that people have a lot on their plate—everybody wants to do as much as they can all the time, but it can be a lot,” Lombardi said.

This never-ending cycle has been painful for sophomores, and has caused some students to struggle with getting adequate sleep. Some feel like going to school is a form of torture.

For sophomore James Barnett, the slump feels like “waking up everyday and stepping on a bed of nails.” 

The slump has also caused some students to avoid school, leading them to rack up missing assignments and tests.

“I didn’t go to school for a full week,” sophomore Clementine Beath-Kelham said. “The stress definitely affects me on a weekly basis, but it’s just something that you have to push through.”

In sophomore health classes, students are learning healthy coping mechanisms to combat stressors that may contribute to the slump. Some sophomores seem to have their own methods to help them deal with anxiety.

“I like to decompress in my room or listen to music,” Beath-Kelham said. “I sleep [stress] off sometimes, and then I feel better after a nap.”

Others may have a different approach, like prioritizing a consistent amount of sleep each night or crafting a specific routine. 

“I try to keep a work-life balance as much as possible, setting aside some time to do things other than schoolwork,” Abendroth said. 

Although some sophomores have felt that sophomore year is a struggle, they are still looking forward to the remainder of their time at New Trier.

“I’m excited for senior year, because there’s more options, and a lot more freedom,” Fontana said. “I just keep going—class by class, day by day.” 

Lombardi emphasizes the importance of knowing your personal level of workload in order to maintain a reasonable balance between school and activities.

“Sometimes you have to take things off of your plate—not because it’s some sort of failure, but because making choices for sleep, nutrition, and friends can allow for a healthy, balanced life,” Lombardi said.