After going through a global pandemic in 2020, now is better than ever to say New Year, new me. As we start this year, students are coming up with goals to stay productive in class, continue chasing their dreams, and keep their health in good standing both mentally and physically.
Here are some of the New Year’s resolutions students on campus have set for themselves:
Last semester allowed for students to simply log onto their classes through Zoom with little to no focus on the lecture and course material. This year, some students made a goal to be more attentive and involved in their classes for the spring semester.
Alexa Hurd, a freshman nursing major from Tremonton, said, “I feel like toward the end of the year I started slacking a lot on studying, so I just really want to be on top of it this semester.”
Hurd said she is excited to begin this new semester through DSU’s nursing program.
Less procrastination might be better for your mental health. Abigail Zobell, a sophomore design major from Cheyenne, Wyoming, said she wants to focus on not procrastinating in regard to her assignments, which will also allow her to be less anxious.
For others, 2021 is going to be a year all about focusing on yourself and improving as an individual. Ramiro Ambriz, a freshman art major from Indio, California, said he wants to work on becoming a better version of himself.
Ambriz said he realizes how important it is to keep going despite past struggles and to always seek self-improvement.
It is important to remember to get out of the house during these unprecedented times, and students are willing to work out at the Human Performance Center in order to do so.
Antonio Martinez, a freshman general education major from Taylorsville, said his resolution is to get out of the house more to start feeling better about himself.
“When you’re alone and not having much interaction with people, you just really have to focus on yourself,” Martinez said. “Not being around people lowers your standards because you don’t have to worry about what others think, so you have to take into account how you feel about yourself.”
Even though students are going through tough times right now with COVID-19, there are still so many opportunities in the community to gain experience and further their education.
Emily Livingston, a junior psychology major from Alberta, Canada, is an intern at the Southwest Behavioral Treatment Center as a research assistant. Her goal is to enjoy learning and gain as much experience as she can in the new year.
New Year’s resolutions can be simple, broad goals that are flexible and able to be completed by the end of the year to become better versions of ourselves.
Camille Saunders, a freshman sociology major from Portland, Oregon, said: “This year, I decided to take a step back and just have some really broad goals that I want to accomplish by the end of 2021. I want to be able to look back on my year in December and say that my mental health is at a better place than it was in December of 2020.”
Saunders said by creating more broad goals this year she already feels less pressure on herself.
In 2021, students are hoping to begin traveling again to further their education and experience. Christopher Mansfield, a sophomore art major from St. George, said his big New Year’s goal is to be able to travel abroad in October to Japan.
“I want to learn more Japanese history, and I am currently learning Japanese myself at Dixie,” Mansfield said. “Last year, I was planning on going to Japan in March, but the trip got canceled due to the COVID crisis.”
Health and wellness is a common resolution that people set each year. David Curtis, a sophomore design major from St. George, said it is important to him that he stays active and healthy because he doesn’t want to let himself go in 2021. He said he wants to use the HPC to his advantage throughout the spring semester.
Have you ever felt unsure about how to set New Year’s resolutions?
Libby Poole, a sophomore communication studies major from Castle Rock, Colorado, said, “I think that if you want to change, you can start anytime; it doesn’t have to be at the New Year.”
Poole has set resolutions in the past, but she had a change of heart about setting resolutions each year after watching a YouTube video explaining that it is important to set goals throughout the year and not just at the start of a new year. She said it made her realize that she would rather focus on creating goals throughout the year and not just at the New Year.
