On Resolutions

Honorable Mention, Life as a Vet Student
Christopher Reeves, Auburn

For this edition's "Life as a Vet Student" category, The Vet Gazette asked readers, "As we begin another year, what resolutions are you making, and how successful do you think you’ll be at keeping them?" Here is how one student answered:

New Year’s resolutions in the past for me have had abysmal results at best.  Last year I figured I would trick myself by making an, “I won’t keep my New Year’s resolution” resolution, and that was probably the best one kept in my life!  But this year I believe will be different.  Not because I feel like I have more self-control, will-power, or bullheadedness, but because I discovered a new tool over the summer break that made my impact on my school the best yet last semester: LISTS!

I rediscovered regular old “To Do” lists, but this time with a new age twist.  I’ve tried these in the past with limited success.  For short term (day or two) projects they work wonderfully to keep me on track and keep my mind organized.  However for long term goals and projects, I just ended up losing them!  What is the point of a list if you can’t find it or you lose it?  So what is different this time? Computer desktop post-it notes!

I was sitting in the SAVMA House of Delegates meeting in August during the annual AVMA Convention, and I was realizing that my brainstorming and “to do” list was getting staggering.  This is what it looked like this once it was put in words and not just floating around in my head:

-        Start “Town Hall Meetings” with the deans and students

-        Put together more succinct financial aid information packet

-        Finance councilor for students?

-        Stress relief events during finals

-        Need to increase communication between students and administration

-        SCAVMA Fleece Sale dates and items

 As you can see, my mind was struggling to keep these ideas in my head along with paying attention to the presentations, motions, motions to the motions, motions be tabled, etc.  By the end of the convention, I had a list that was about eight items long.  Some of the items really didn’t look like they’d take all that long to finish (SCAVMA Fleece Sale stuff didn’t take too long) but some of the other items looked more abstract and larger.  On the plane ride back from San Diego I was looking at those items and thinking, “There is no way I will be able to finish this list, but I guess something is better than nothing.”

The difference between the nature of this “To Do” list and the ones in the past was that it was electronic and on my computer desktop so I saw it every day.  Every time I opened my laptop, minimized Facebook… I mean my notes, or did anything, the “To Do” list was sitting there glaring at me.  Sometimes it felt a little overwhelming, but by staying organized and delegating some of the tasks I was able to accomplish and delete the note by Christmas break!  Over that semester we had a successful fleece sale, the first ever college town hall meeting, began creating a website for the financial aid information, had the first “puppy stress relief day” during finals, and even secured a Keurig coffee machine for the students! Oh yeah, and I passed the first semester of second year too!

So see if you can’t find some type application that lets you make notes on your desktop.  It apparently isn’t enough for me to be reminded: I need my list in my face.  This semester I already have 7 Post-Its so maybe this year’s resolutions will be successful!