Picture this: it’s New Year’s Eve, you’re on vacation in the Dominican Republic, and you are having the time of your life. You’ve gotten through a great book, you have an awesome tan, you’ve spent time with your family, and you’ve even made friends with other tourists. Now all that's left is to welcome in the new year. You have your list of resolutions in hand, and you can’t wait for the year to be over. Last year got off to a bad start, but this year will be better, you assure yourself. It’s a new beginning and you know what they say about new beginnings: they’re a chance to have a fresh start, to achieve something you haven’t before. 

“5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Happy New Year!” What now? You don’t start your year feeling like a new person. The countdown didn’t change your entire life. “New Year, New Me?” More like “New Year, Same Me.” 

Remember that Dominican Republic getaway? You have a return trip on one of two of the worst days to travel in the entire year. Maybe, if you’re lucky, your flight gets back on time. Chances are it’ll be canceled, then your tropical paradise becomes an airport prison. Once you do get on that plane, you have screaming children, angry adults, and that one child who happens to be right behind you kicking your seat, slowly getting on your last nerve and if-that-mother- doesn’t-control-her-child-so-help-me-I’ll— 

What a way to start your year. It’s fine, though. One lousy flight can’t ruin an entire year. You still have your list of resolutions that will fix everything. Let’s take a quick look at those: 

1. Go to the gym every day

1. You’ll go to the gym once and then someone will tell you that you have to do planks on your front and not your back.

2. Save more money

1. You’ll save $100 and then blow it all on a concert ticket. And it will be a bad concert. 

3. Read 100 books

1. You’ll read one book, maybe two, but most of your time will be taken up reading those weekly dean emails.

Not everyone completes their resolutions and that’s okay. What’s a few goals pushed to next year? You wanted to fix your sleep schedule, and it’s definitely changed . . . but not for the better. And you said you wanted to get that history work done early on break, but it’s the night before school starts and you have a lot of work to do. Actually remembering it’s the new year is going to be the hardest part, I see a lot of crossed out dates in your future. 

No, no, let’s not focus on that. Let’s look at the rest of the month. Assessment after assessment, assignment after assignment, sleepless night after sleepless night. You can’t catch a break. Hopefully your grades are where they need to be. Otherwise?...Well, we don’t need to talk about it otherwise. 

So just wait until the second semester and lay low the next two weeks and have a fresh slate. It’ll be another chance to start anew. February is the new New Year anyways. So make a list of things you can do better next semester. And that list will expand beyond school. And you’ll work out more, read more, and spend less. And you’ll finally fix your sleep schedule—the right way—and always be on top of your assignments. A newer, you-er beginning!