Written by Olivia Studdard, Staff Writer

Author Melody Beattie wrote, “The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, wanting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” Within her simple words there is a challenge—how do you greet the new year?

Some people celebrate with parties and fireworks, or maybe hands filled with celebratory drinks or lovers. But whether they watch a ball drop or maybe a peach, most people sense the feeling of change that comes with the beginning of a new year. That’s where the resolution comes in. But do we ever keep them, or are they just as forgotten as the parties, fireworks, and other celebratory things that come with the turning of the calendar page?

College students come up with a plethora of resolutions each year, many common ones include getting better grades, going to the student rec center more often, or maybe even getting involved with a religious organization. However, it seems that as we are in the third week of the calendar year and the second full week of classes that the resolutions are dropping off the map at a steady pace. Does anyone keep them after Jan. 10 anymore?

Brian Breland, sophomore physical education major, said that he didn’t even make a resolution this year. “I knew if I made one I wouldn’t keep it.”

So, is it still worth it? Has the aspiration of becoming someone better become the simple exaggerated turning of a simple calendar page? Is that what we’ve let it become?

If people choose to accept their lives simply as the way they are now, no desire to grow or change or improve, we show no desire to continue at all. We are in college, working our way through life and attempting to become better versions of ourselves.

It’s never too late to decide to try a little harder to be a little better.