In today’s world, where headphones, cellphones and endless scrolling dominate daily life, the simple act of saying “Hi, how are you?” and “Good morning” is long gone. Streets, neighborhoods and stores are busier than ever, yet somehow quieter at the same time. Places that once felt lively now feel like spaces we merely pass through while running errands. Even brief, casual conversations with people we encounter have nearly gone extinct.

On social media platforms, Baylor showcases images of its beautiful campus, smiling students and graduate success stories, all reinforcing a promise of personal, academic and professional achievement. While these photos of perfection and happiness are a nice visual, they do not accurately reflect the stress and competitive nature many students, myself included, experience behind the scenes.

Students often refer to the “sophomore slump” as a feelings of stagnancy and uncertainty in your second year of college, as the pomp and excitement of freshman year dies down. Baylor’s recently launched Year2@Baylor program hopes to fix that.

No. 14 Baylor women’s basketball locked down UCF on Wednesday, forcing a season-high 24 takeaways in the Bears’ 73-48 victory over the Knights. Baylor also held UCF to 14 field goals, its lowest mark on the season.