It’s that time of the year again, when people are filled with high hopes, aspirations, and goals…or are they? This week, we interviewed several students and staff members at Andrews to hear what goals or thoughts they have for the new year.
Jaden Leiterman (junior, medical laboratory sciences)
“To take the time to focus on and enjoy things outside of school, like more reading for pleasure.”
Kenzie Fossmeyer (freshman, nutrition)
“My resolution is to take more photos with my camera this semester.”
Brooklyn Anderson (freshman, animal science)
“My new year’s resolution is to have a healthier mind, body, and spirit and to be happy.”
Anneliese Tessalee (junior, biochemistry)
“To write a complete personal statement describing every major role I play in my life (daughter, sister, friend, student...), which I will read and internalize every morning with the purpose of living each day in alignment with my personal values.”
Yoel Kim (junior, physics and math studies)
“My new year’s resolution is to be better at time management; I want to keep a better track of how my time is spent, how I tend to sometimes waste time on innocuous, unnoticeable things. I think tracking this would improve the ability for me to optimize my life, and become more efficient.”
Sion Kim (junior, medical laboratory sciences)
“My New Year’s resolution is to go to the gym at least three times a week and become healthier.”
Kavya Mohanram (sophomore, biology)
“I want to increase connections with the people I care about.”
Nathan Mathieu (junior, exercise science)
“Get more fluent in Spanish and God’s Word.”
Philip DeLeon, Associate Dean for Student Involvement
“To get your name right.” [FYI: My name is GLORIA, but for some reason, many people, including Dean DeLeon, call me Grace.]
Sharon Moore, Administrative Assistant for the Center for Faith Engagement
“I want to have a closer walk with the Lord, drink more water (while also limiting my coke intake), and exercise!”
Nora Martin (junior, English)
“Drink more often.”
Rael Kim (senior, biology)
“To be happy.”
Dr. Benjamin Navia (Biology) and 80% of the students I have asked so far: “No.”
I’m not sure if you were surprised to see how simple and casual the resolutions were, or the number of people that said they do not have new year’s resolutions. But knowing these individuals, I knew it was not that they lacked motivation in life, but it was rather because they were in a good place in their lives. They did not see the need to make a dramatic resolution.
It seems that as we get older, our goals progressively escape the achievement phase to ones that will improve our overall quality of life. At least I feel so, and I’m glad I am in this transition where I am slowly detaching myself from times when I felt like I had to achieve lots of big things to have a happy adulthood! It took me long enough, but I think peace is finally settling in my heart after many years without it. I used to hate the phrase “it’s going to be okay,” but I’m slowly being convinced that it’s really going to be okay.
And to everyone who is reading this, I wish you a Happy New Year! I’m glad we lived through 2022, to see a new year on the calendar. I hope we can convince ourselves every day that everything will be okay, and that we are not alone--we have each other. I hope everything you hope for will come true, and that we can build hope for one another this year.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.