For many students, goal-setting and writing resolutions is a staple part of the beginning of a new calendar year and the start of a new semester. As we begin a new chapter, we take the time to look back on the past and develop aspirations for the year to come. We all have things we want to accomplish and changes we hope to see this year, so we asked U of T students to share their resolutions — from their personal goals to the changes they want to see made in the university.
***
I don’t truly believe in lofty New Year’s resolutions, like going to the gym or eating healthier. To be honest, if I made those resolutions, I know I would never meet them, so my resolutions are simple: do well in school, remain relatively healthy, enjoy my time with my friends as much as possible, and eat less Kraft Dinner.
—Emily Scherzinger, fourth-year
My resolutions tend to look the same year after year — eat better, go to the gym — so this year I’m trying something new. My goal is to try and be more balanced: to read a book on my commute instead of answering emails, to try and sleep a little more, and to try and really enjoy my last semester of university. I hope U of T can try to do the same; I think we could all use a little more balance too offset our piles of textbooks in 2015.
—Samantha Relich, fourth-year, Features Editor
My New Year’s resolution for U of T is for the school to encourage frugality among students and provide advice on how to be smart with money. The mental stress from going to a school like U of T is often compounded by the financial stress of living — or even just going to school — in a major urban centre. Many of us will graduate facing a difficult employment climate, and providing solutions that educate students about how to maximize their often limited funds and cut expenses would improve life in and after U of T.
—Jaren Kerr, second-year
After my adjustment to first year last semester, in the new year I’m going to focus on staying positive. I’ve always been hard on myself, but in university, if you get hung up on one problem, you’re never going to improve yourself. It’s more important to learn from what you did wrong and move on with a positive attitude. It can be kind of difficult to keep your confidence up when you’re part of a huge institution, but I’ve found my professors and TAs to be extremely open and welcoming. I hope to see even more of that in 2015.
—Teodora Pasca, first-year
Last semester, for the first time in my time at university, I struggled with just about everything. I didn’t do well in classes, I dropped out of my extracurriculars, and I started finding it hard to go out with friends. I was anxious about my future — about everything, really. For my resolution, I’m going to go talk to a therapist about my anxiety. I’ve been putting it off for too long. I hope anyone else who feels the same way can find the motivation to find help too.
—Alex*, third-year
In 2014, I kept telling myself that I didn’t have enough time to exercise or make myself healthy, home-cooked food as I had in second year. As a result, my physical and mental health has really suffered. Over the break, I started going to yoga three times a week and limiting my processed food intake. My resolution for 2015 is to keep these healthy habits up and to stop using time or stress as excuses.
—Leelan Farhan, third-year
More tea and less coffee. Meet more people and make more friends. To take my camera with me always. To learn how to budget money for fun nights instead of saying “no” to every expensive event. To remember to floss. To try and finish my essays before they’re due and, on the same note: more studying, less Netflix.
—Alexandra Yao, first-year
*Last name omitted at student’s request.
Share your resolutions with us on Twitter by tagging @TheVarsity.
