How MC Students are tackling New Year’s Resolutions

Each new year you hear the same five-word question: “What are your resolutions?” And each year all of us are faced with trying to come up with something to say, even if we don’t believe in them.

            As college students, the pressure to change is constantly around, whether it be how you dress, how you eat, or what you do on the weekends. There is always a standard that we strive to meet, and New Year’s resolutions give us the chance to meet these goals. The beginning of the year gives us all an opportunity to start over.

            The idea behind New Year’s Resolutions is to make a list of goals that can be accomplished throughout the year. This can include things such as getting better grades, working out, or reading a book a month.

            According to Reese Pugh, a sophomore at Maryville College, resolutions are great ways to better yourself.

            “It gives people the chance for developing new, healthy habits,” Pugh said. “If people follow through with them, they’re amazing.” Pugh has set his own resolutions for the year. One of which is to get up every day at 7 a.m. and run. 

            Dani Crowder, a senior here at MC, thinks that they can be beneficial too.

            “I think they are good because they keep you motivated at the beginning of the year,” Crowder said.

            Coming into the new year can be hard. When it comes to getting back into the swing of things after a break, it is easy to remain in that same “break” mindset. But coming up with resolutions and sticking to them can help motivate someone to get out of the holiday rut and back into healthier habits.

            Crowder also used this opportunity to set resolutions for herself. According to her, she would like to be healthier and live more in the moment.

            Even though many people set goals, not everyone thinks New Year’s Resolutions are helpful. Some students think that they are a waste of time.

            Sophomore Ale Yanez is one of the many people who feel this way.

            “I don’t think many people really go through with their resolutions,” Yanez said. “I think people can change if they set their mind to it, but normally they don’t.”

            According to US Health Magazine, over 80 percent of New Year’s Resolutions fail. The hardest part of setting these goals is following through with them. Students especially will set goals that are extremely high and then realize that they over-estimated what they were able to handle.

            The load of school and added goals can become too much to bear when starting a new semester. Although it defeats the purpose of a New Year’s resolution, sometimes the best thing to do is set little goals throughout the year, rather than huge ones at the beginning.

            Chris Fernandez, a senior at the college, said that goals should not just be set around New Year’s.

 “I believe New Year’s Resolutions should be done throughout the year, and you should set goals throughout the year,” Fernandez said. Despite this, he still set some.

            “My goals are to do more job hunting and to run five days a week,” Fernandez said.

            This is an example that goals can come in all shapes and sizes. Although the most common one is to work out more, Fernandez added one that is less common but still just as helpful. Crowder also did this with her resolution of living in the moment.

            As humans, we are always on a quest to become better. For some people, the idea of a brand-new year is all they need to jump start their new habits.  Even if they aren’t always kept, these resolutions that are set are a way to help people get one foot in the right direction.

            Here at MC, there are many different activities that can help keep people on track, no matter the goal. There are workout facilities, the chance to walk in the woods, career fairs and so much more.