The winter semester is in full swing and once again students and faculty alike are falling back into their school routines. For some that may involve waking early and drinking a lot of caffeine in preparation for a long commute. Perhaps it’s memorizing a new schedule and rechecking Canvas to see if the instructor has posted an announcement. Regardless, whether people’s routines entail listening to an abundant amount of syllabus introductions or not, everyone is busy.
While the ebb and flow of college is not a novel experience, the start of winter semester offers a unique opportunity that is unlike fall semester. Not only is this a fresh start for those who participate in the education system, but it’s also a new beginning for those who live according to the Gregorian calendar. To put it plainly, it’s a new year which of course means New Year’s resolutions.
I have always seen New Year’s resolutions as more fad than anything truly productive, but the consensus for GRCC students is more optimistic. Everyone is ready for a clean slate, including students looking for actual change.
“I’ve decided I’m gonna try to eat better for the year,” said Peyton Stancil, 25, of Ionia.
“Pay off student loans… I’m more financially stable,” said Kimberly Robloer, 22, of Grand Rapids.
Yoselyn Flores, 18, of Cedar Springs, took a more spiritual approach and shared, “I want to start going to church again and just get closer to God.”
There were of course those who were goal-oriented in relation to classes and school.
“Honestly, just to try a lot better and harder than I did in school last semester, “ David Nyguen, 25, of Grand Rapids, revealed. “Becuase last semester, I’m not going to lie, I did slack on a few things. Not keeping up on assignments and that just wasn’t fun.”
Flores shared a similar sentiment, “Try to do good this semester. So like studying and everything.”
When people consider goal making many assume they have to climb a mountain or begin something new. Sometimes, though, a goal can be to just restart a new hobby.
For Stancil, in addition to his healthier eating habits he looked to art, “I write poetry and I journal… I used to do it a long time ago, but I stopped for a long time and I just really recently decided to get back into it and I draw too. I’ve always liked drawing.”
While it is easy for a person to say whatever they want, such as going to the gym everyday in conjunction with a new membership, a lot of the time it can be more difficult to put words into action. Everyone knows this. I myself am not exempt from making a few lofty goals of my own… or rather make resolutions I never truly intended on executing or completing to begin with. Students have kept this in mind, though, and shared how they desire to complete their goals. Some even shared reasons for making them in the first place.
Stancil further explained, “I’m gonna try to eat as many fruits and vegetables… instead of more processed foods, buying more from the outer walls of the grocery store.”
When asked if she had any more resolutions, Robloer said, “Well not anymore. I had a goal to buy my dad a car and I did that last week.” I’ve seen him struggle and he’s had the same car since 2000, so I was like ‘he needs a little upgrade.’”
In regard to her desire to attend church more often Flores said, “Past situations I had in my life, that’s my reason to get closer.”
“I’m just really tired of working a normal job,” Nyguen, said. “I wanted to do something worth my life. I wanted to have a career, something I can build on. Thinking about it, I don’t think the job that I’m working now can… provide for a family, or do anything in the future… So I want to get something better, honestly.”
“For school, honestly I’m just here. You know I’m putting my money into this, so I want to get good grades and have the outcome that I want,” Flores said.
“I think they’re a good thing if you can stick to it,” Robloer said. “You have to make them realistic and make a plan for it. Like my student loans, I have a budget each month that I have to stick to. And if I keep going at it, I can stick to it. But if I just go off and spend money on what I want and not what I need, then I don’t think I’ll be able to pay those off.”
One last concern that people may get too attached to is timing. Is it really beneficial to wait until the new year to start or make a goal?
“Depends on who you ask,” Nyguen said.
Robloer said, “I feel like whenever they think it’s appropriate.”
“I feel like it shouldn’t just be new year, ‘oh, I want to do this,’” Flores shared. “It should be like, if you have a goal just do it whenever and stick to it.”
Despite how he first responded, Nyguen quickly changed his tune, “I think for the most part, I don’t think long goals are a good resolution. There’s no point in doing that. Like ‘oh, in the next five years I want to do this.’ I don’t really think that’s realistic… I think it’s more obtainable if people think about what they can do in short term. If you really wanted to change you would do it now.”
On the other end of the spectrum was Stancil, who did have more than one goal. “I think it’s a good thing to have something like that. Where you have the need to create something new, because sometimes people don’t have the opportunity to think about it because there’s so much going on. And then the new year comes along and it’s something you always think about, like, ‘what am I going to do this year?’”
There are many thoughts and opinions regarding New Year’s resolutions, but all make a valid point. At the end of the day, resolutions are important to make, on Jan. 1 or not. Part of the human experience is to better ourselves, to live a life full of ambition and purpose, so whether one takes up a new hobby or revisits a passion of the past, make a goal. Make it realistic. Make it obtainable. Make it fun.
Just like Stancil and other students have pondered themselves, what will you do this year?
