New year’s resolutions: To make or not to make?

A new year, a new start, right?

The idea of starting off fresh in the new year is what inspires people to make new year’s resolutions, but in 2011 many students don’t seem to be to concerned with beginning new.

Many students have given up on making resolutions because they say they are hard to remember and even harder to maintain.

“In the past I felt like I had to grow taller, work harder and not procrastinate, things like that,” junior Kushal Raj said. “I’d make resolutions, but I’d forget them by January 2nd.”

When asked why he did not make new year’s resolutions anymore, Raj said, “I feel I’m perfect the way I am. I don’t want to mess with perfection.”

Other students find that they do not have time in their busy schedules to carry out their resolutions, even if they do make them.

“I don’t have a New Year’s resolution, except maybe hit the gym more,” said senior Amish Rohatgi. “But I have not been doing anything, though, because of college apps.”

Perhaps the fact that students are no longer making resolutions marks a transition from the innocent idealism of childhood to a more pragmatic view of tackling problems, according to sophomore Jonathan Olsen.

“I usually just do whatever I can at the moment. If I feel like something needs to be done, I’ll do it,” Olsen said.

But not all students have rejected the idea of resolutions. Sophomore Kimberly Chou is one of just a handful of students who has made a resolution this year.

“I want to get better grades and be healthier,” she said, noting that she has been keeping her resolution so far.

Sophomore Caroline Chou believes that New Year’s resolutions can be beneficial, even though she did not make any resolutions for the new year. Chou’s previous resolution lasted several months and helped her achieve her goals.

“I’ve made resolutions where I’ve told myself to read more, get more sleep or run more, and I actually did follow through with them,” Chou said. “It felt really good to accomplish something and know that I made myself do it, just the sense of accomplishment.”