New Year, (Re)New You

Dec 31,2015

Another year comes to a close, and not a moment too soon. For college students on winter break, it means they survived a whole 12 months at university, which is no small feat. Whether it was a year of progress, toil, or some combination thereof depends on each person, but I'm sure we can all agree that now is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments and setbacks each of us experienced within the past year. By doing so, one can determine what they need to keep doing and what they need to keep working on as the new year springs upon us.

It might be tempting to let one's achievements go to one's head, especially while one is on break, but it would be wise to not let them go to your head and stop giving your educational plans the consideration they deserve. Even if you've had a good year, not having any real idea of what you seek to accomplish in the next one is not the best of positions to be in, so you've got to determine what is the next step in your college career. Making sure you've filled out your FAFSA  and/or scholarship applications is a great start, particularly for those of us who wouldn't have money to attend college on our own.

Your major and general education requirements are another thing you should attend to. If you've been keeping on top of them, then you're likely to have more leeway in picking courses and setting your schedule this upcoming year. If not, there will be time for you to get on top of it and start fulfilling these requirements. Don't despair if you're a senior and this coming quarter is your last: you still have the option of deferring your graduation and finishing any leftover requirements you have at a later date or even, in some cases, a different institution. That being said, finishing them all in one fell swoop, if possible, is the best course of action, so check those major and GE requirements as soon as possible.

Speaking of seniors, it would behoove you to mull over your plans after graduation, and I'm not just talking about academic plans. If you want to take some time off of school, go ahead, you've earned it. Make plans to take a trip somewhere, or spend a week or two with friends and family. But don't forget to plan for after the festivities end. Do you see grad school in your future? Have you already applied to the schools of your choice and received letters of recommendation from your professors? No? Then get to it!

Although it might seem during your time at school that there are long, extended periods where nothing of import happens, time moves much quicker than students realize it. Just think about some of the memories you made the past year. Seems only like yesterday, right? Before you know it, 2016 will be coming to an end and you'll be thinking over the events of the previous year. Do you want to remember it as a year in which you got a lot done, or a year in which you remained in the same place as you were at the start of it? I'm sure that everybody wants the former, but it's up to them to realize it for themselves.

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New Year, (Re)New You

 New Year, (Re)New You

New Year, (Re)New You

New Year, (Re)New You

Another year comes to a close, and not a moment too soon. For college students on winter break, it means they survived a whole 12 months at university, which is no small feat. Whether it was a year of progress, toil, or some combination thereof depends on each person, but I'm sure we can all agree that now is a good time to reflect on the accomplishments and setbacks each of us experienced within the past year. By doing so, one can determine what they need to keep doing and what they need to keep working on as the new year springs upon us.

It might be tempting to let one's achievements go to one's head, especially while one is on break, but it would be wise to not let them go to your head and stop giving your educational plans the consideration they deserve. Even if you've had a good year, not having any real idea of what you seek to accomplish in the next one is not the best of positions to be in, so you've got to determine what is the next step in your college career. Making sure you've filled out your FAFSA  and/or scholarship applications is a great start, particularly for those of us who wouldn't have money to attend college on our own.

Your major and general education requirements are another thing you should attend to. If you've been keeping on top of them, then you're likely to have more leeway in picking courses and setting your schedule this upcoming year. If not, there will be time for you to get on top of it and start fulfilling these requirements. Don't despair if you're a senior and this coming quarter is your last: you still have the option of deferring your graduation and finishing any leftover requirements you have at a later date or even, in some cases, a different institution. That being said, finishing them all in one fell swoop, if possible, is the best course of action, so check those major and GE requirements as soon as possible.

Speaking of seniors, it would behoove you to mull over your plans after graduation, and I'm not just talking about academic plans. If you want to take some time off of school, go ahead, you've earned it. Make plans to take a trip somewhere, or spend a week or two with friends and family. But don't forget to plan for after the festivities end. Do you see grad school in your future? Have you already applied to the schools of your choice and received letters of recommendation from your professors? No? Then get to it!

Although it might seem during your time at school that there are long, extended periods where nothing of import happens, time moves much quicker than students realize it. Just think about some of the memories you made the past year. Seems only like yesterday, right? Before you know it, 2016 will be coming to an end and you'll be thinking over the events of the previous year. Do you want to remember it as a year in which you got a lot done, or a year in which you remained in the same place as you were at the start of it? I'm sure that everybody wants the former, but it's up to them to realize it for themselves.