New Year's Resolutions: Silly tradition?
Saba Naseem
Issue date: 1/12/09 Section: Lifestyles
Welcome to 2009 - a year of new presidency, new hopes, new opportunities and, of course, new resolutions.
For some people, New Year's resolutions are an absolute commitment, but others view it as yet another tradition, and a few even dismiss it as a silly idea.
Common resolutions among students were losing weight, saving money, better fitness and better grades. But how long will these goals last?
"I broke all my New Year's resolutions by the first week," said Tara Mueller, a Fayetteville resident. "In fact, I think I broke a couple on the first day."
UA students expressed mixed views on New Year's resolutions. Many had not given any thought to them this year, and others claimed to have never made a resolution.
"I have never made a New Year's resolution, but I think it is a great idea because it makes an excellent mindset to succeed, or at least try to accomplish certain goals," said Courtney Cagle, a freshman biology major.
Others, however, were against resolutions in general.
"Past experience tells me New Year's resolutions are no good for me," said David Joseph, a freshman engineering major. "If something's important enough to make a resolution over, why wait until New Year's?"
Many students agreed with this view. They said they thought making goals should not just happen once a year.
"I think that resolutions are silly if the person making them thinks that keeping them will make them a better person; otherwise, they can be a good tool," said Alex Hetherington, a freshman geography major. "This year I want to ride my bike at least as much as prescribed by my coach, to make all A's and to create more."
Katie Russell, a sophomore communications major, said she does not really think resolutions are silly if the intent is pure.
"Sure, you may mess up, but at least you have a goal, which is more than some people can say," she said. "I'd like to keep climbing three times a week and steadily get better, but that's all I've got so far. One year, I gave up sodas in general, and now I don't drink them at all anymore. So that one worked."
When asked if they had broken any resolutions, some students laughed and said they still had a lot of time to do that. Many claimed that they usually went through with the resolution for about a month, but would then get bored with it.
Whether New Year's resolutions are effective or silly is for students to determine themselves. If they really want to change a past habit or reach their goals, they will be serious enough to keep their resolutions.
For some people, New Year's resolutions are an absolute commitment, but others view it as yet another tradition, and a few even dismiss it as a silly idea.
Common resolutions among students were losing weight, saving money, better fitness and better grades. But how long will these goals last?
"I broke all my New Year's resolutions by the first week," said Tara Mueller, a Fayetteville resident. "In fact, I think I broke a couple on the first day."
UA students expressed mixed views on New Year's resolutions. Many had not given any thought to them this year, and others claimed to have never made a resolution.
"I have never made a New Year's resolution, but I think it is a great idea because it makes an excellent mindset to succeed, or at least try to accomplish certain goals," said Courtney Cagle, a freshman biology major.
Others, however, were against resolutions in general.
"Past experience tells me New Year's resolutions are no good for me," said David Joseph, a freshman engineering major. "If something's important enough to make a resolution over, why wait until New Year's?"
Many students agreed with this view. They said they thought making goals should not just happen once a year.
"I think that resolutions are silly if the person making them thinks that keeping them will make them a better person; otherwise, they can be a good tool," said Alex Hetherington, a freshman geography major. "This year I want to ride my bike at least as much as prescribed by my coach, to make all A's and to create more."
Katie Russell, a sophomore communications major, said she does not really think resolutions are silly if the intent is pure.
"Sure, you may mess up, but at least you have a goal, which is more than some people can say," she said. "I'd like to keep climbing three times a week and steadily get better, but that's all I've got so far. One year, I gave up sodas in general, and now I don't drink them at all anymore. So that one worked."
When asked if they had broken any resolutions, some students laughed and said they still had a lot of time to do that. Many claimed that they usually went through with the resolution for about a month, but would then get bored with it.
Whether New Year's resolutions are effective or silly is for students to determine themselves. If they really want to change a past habit or reach their goals, they will be serious enough to keep their resolutions.
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