New Years 'Resolutions'

Winner, Life as a Vet Student
Stephanie Silberstang, Cornell University

I want to start a gym and call it ‘Resolutions:’ for two months it’ll be a fully functional gym and for the rest of the year it’ll be converted into a bar.” My friend told me that joke and I had to stop and think about how true it was. Every year millions of people make New Year’s resolutions, mostly to lose weight or end a bad habit, and buy new gym memberships and subscribe to blogs on their resolution topic in a fervor. However, these same people typically forget within the first few months the unhappiness and enthusiasm that motivated them in the first place and resort to their old ways.
 
That is why I never wait for New Year’s to make and start a resolution. Throughout the year I often think of something that I need to improve such as studying harder, exercising more frequently, keeping in touch with friends and family, or keeping my room clean. When these thoughts pop into my head, I try to start them as soon as possible. If I am feeling sluggish I will go online and buy a few yoga passes to my favorite studio that expire within the month or if I think my room is looking messy I will commit to picking five things up immediately, which tends to lead to full out cleaning of the apocalyptic aftermath that is my room.

However, I understand that many people need a good kick in the hind end that is a large brightly-lit sphere dropping in the middle of Times Square and a kiss from a loved one at midnight. And although making resolutions that you intend to start on January 1st may not last, I think it’s a great idea to attempt self-improvement at any point in your life. If the new year gives everyone an excuse to reflect introspectively and decide that they can make their lives better then I support the tradition. This year, my New Year’s resolution will be to stick with the other resolutions I make throughout the year and, of course, to be an awesome veterinarian (Class of 2013!)!