The word: un-slumping

There’s undeniable truth to the concept of the “sophomore slump.”

Take Hootie & the Blowfish, for example. (You know, the group who sang, “Well there’s nothing I can do, I only wanna be with you.”) Their debut album, “Cracked Rear View,” was released in 1994 and sold more than 16 million copies. Hootie’s rock ‘n’ roll was a breath of fresh air at a time when grunge dominated the airwaves – or so I’m told. I was barely 2 years old.

Next came “Fairweather Johnson” in 1996. Compared to the band’s hugely successful first album, it fell flat, with sales totaling around three million. Triple platinum is far from failure, but those three million copies account for only a fraction of what they’d sold two years earlier.

From what I can tell, the sophomore slump doesn’t just exist in the music industry. It’s a very real problem on college campuses. Many second-year students experience decreased motivation and, therefore, a drop in GPA. I’d guess that it has to do with the novelty of freshman year having worn off and the idea of graduation being so far away.

Lately I’ve found myself in such a slump. I’m late to class, forgetful about assignments and generally uninterested in searching for summer internships. It’s the sixth week of school and I still haven’t bought all my books! All I want to do is eat Ben & Jerry’s AmeriCone Dream and watch “Modern Family” reruns with my roommates. I don’t know how to get back in the swing of things.

Dr. Seuss put it best – he always did – in “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

“When you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.”

How do I “un-slump” myself? I have a feeling spring break will help. With a little time at home and some of my grandma’s mashed potatoes, I’ll be good as new. Really, you can’t underestimate the rejuvenating powers of home-cooked food. Un-slumping is possible – Seuss said so himself.

“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.”