I’m not a big fan of New Year’s. It is supposed to be a time where we can start afresh with a clean slate for the next year. Seemingly, it is actually about promising yourself to work out more and eat less during the following 12 months. That’s really, really boring. So why don’t we make this New Year’s better than the norm? Here is a list of resolutions I want to resolve for myself, and that you might want to consider making before college:
I resolve to be less uptight
One of the first lessons I learned in college was to let go. If you are going to get through your freshman year, you need to adjust your standards. People will have different opinions, disappointing definitions of cleanliness, and weird behaviors. It is frustrating unless you learn to just go with it.
I resolve to reserve my judgments
If I based all of my emotions on first impressions, I would not have as many close friends or great professors. Sometimes you just need to give people the benefit of the doubt. Don’t write off someone in orientation after one rude comment. Don’t drop a class just because the syllabus is overwhelming. You will be much happier with your college experience if you hold off on the snap judgments.
I resolve to try new things
I took an upper-level history class to fulfill some requirement during my sophomore year. And I loved it. If I had known that college could make the past that interesting, I would have considered minoring in history. You never know what you will find when you go for new experiences. So try as many as you can in 2014.
I resolve to be independent
Nothing is sadder than seeing a college friend or neighbor refuse to let go of high school. It’s great if you have a significant other or close friends back at home, but don’t let them rule your life. Try being by yourself in college. You might prefer it to constantly running back and forth between your school life and your home life.
I resolve to work hard without extensive planning
Do you want to know what happens when you plan every moment of your life? Inevitably, things will turn out differently. I would recommend that you give 100 percent in college without freaking out if you are straying a little from your initial path. Work hard, try to do well, but don’t limit yourself.
Ignore all the commercials telling you to diet and join a gym. This list contains the kinds of resolutions someone in your position should be making. This New Year’s Day, promise yourself to make this new year different than the last.
Written by Rachel Montpelier. Rachel is a senior at Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y. and is the editorial assistant at NextStepU.
> Looking for more advice on navigating your senior year? Register at NextStepU.com and customize your path to success.
Watch this video from Laura about what her motivation is for the 2014 year.
