college student new year's resolutions

One misleading thing about being in college is that you have this idea that you’re supposed to know what you’re doing. You did what was needed to get here, and as long as you keep on track you’ll likely finish with a degree. You MUST know what you’re doing, right? 

The answer is “sort of.” It is an accomplishment to be enrolled in college, but maybe you don’t have the benefit of life experience that some have. With that in mind, take this list of “9 Smart New Year’s Resolutions” that will help guide you toward the path of New Year’s righteousness!

1. Ask questions.

This sounds silly because you probably have classes that all you do is ask questions. Outside of that, ask questions when that little voice in your head says “You should know what they mean. Keep your mouth shut and figure it out.” But you don’t know. And you may never know if you don’t ask. If someone says something that you don’t quite get, ask what they mean.

2. Take at least one class just because you want to.

You’re taking classes for your career path, but you also should take that class that has nothing to do with your chosen career. You’re majoring in engineering but you’ve always wondered if you’d be good at painting or cooking. Take the class! Like asking questions, this is something you’ll regret later if you don’t.

3. Find a mentor.

A lesson that many of us fail to acknowledge early in life is that it’s easier to perfect ANYTHING when you have a mentor. Find one this year - someone that is where you want to be someday. And don’t be shy about asking them for guidance - they’ll love the complement of you wanting their expertise.

4. Start your network. In other words, be nice to people.

There’s the old saying “Be nice to people on your way up, because you may need them on your way down.” Ignore the pessimism and note the message - there may be a time in the near future when you need that guy that sat next to you in Accounting. Talk to people. Tell them your plans and ask about theirs. And get their contact information.

5. Don’t go into debt.

It’s amazing the number of credit cards you’re offered without having a way to pay them. Resist the urge to spend money you don’t have thinking you’ll have it someday. It’s a bad path to take, and those of us who did it, regret it. As for school loans, try to keep them to a minimum. Talk with your school about ways to keep costs down, which could be using digital books, or getting loans that go directly to tuition (and not to you where they may be spent on video games.)

6. Get a job for the experience. Period.

This may sound contradictory to number 5, since part of staying out of debt is working any job you find. This is one that you’ll have to weigh the pros and cons, but, if you can land an internship or low paying job in your future field, do it. It will give you experience, contacts, and confidence.

7. Travel or at least explore.

Again, this may be contradictory to number 5, and, again, it’s about choices. If you have extra money and you can’t decide between a new gaming system and a trip to Mexico, take the trip. Experiencing other cultures will benefit you in ways that you can’t even imagine.

8. Make a list of your goals for 2016.

Goal setting is one of the most proven paths to getting what you want out of life. Setting short term goals for the next year will give you a blueprint of what you should accomplish. At the end of the year, review what you’ve done and use as a basis for the next year’s goals.

9. Make a list of your goals for 2026.

The second part of goal setting is to set LONG term goals. Write down where you want to be in ten years. Compare this list to your goals for 2016 and see if they support each other. Revise as needed. At the end of the year, you can review these and see which ones are on track and which ones should change.

Ready for a Change? Make a Resolution to Accelerate Your Future!

No matter where you are in your college career, this is a time in your life when the possible future paths are wide open. If you’re looking to get back in school, look at the accelerated, accredited degree programs at ECPI University offers. We have both undergrad and graduate programs that can help you further pursue the path you’ve chosen, or help you start down a new one. Contact us to start exploring the options. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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