By EMILY O’LOANE
As December flies by and January looms just around the corner, a new decade is fast approaching. With every new year comes new resolutions for the upcoming year. This New Year’s Day will usher in a brand new decade of the twenty-first century though, and our resolutions should be equally as monumental.
According to a study in the book Auld Lang Syne: Success Predictors, Change Processes, and Self-Reported Outcomes of New Year’s Resolvers and Nonresolvers, between 40 to 45 percent of American adults make a resolution at the beginning of each new year. Yet, only 46 percent of resolution makers keep these resolutions past the first six months of the year.
However, it is also proven that those people who explicitly set resolutions at the beginning of the year are 10 percent more likely to attain goals than those who don’t. So this year, whether you keep it or not, make a resolution. Here is the Hi-Lights staff’s list of New Year’s resolutions for the new decade, just to give you some ideas.
z Be hopeful and optimistic for the future, both literally and figuratively. Create an environment around you that instills hope and confidence within your life. Organize your binder or clean out your locker if your clutter is getting out of control in order to boost your new hope. The double-page spread of this month’s issue helps you by highlighting the 10 things to look forward to in 2010.
- Be hopeful and optimistic for the future, both literally and figuratively. Create an environment around you that instills hope and confidence within your life. Organize your binder or clean out your locker if your clutter is getting out of control in order to boost your new hope. The double-page spread of this month’s issue helps you by highlighting the 10 things to look forward to in 2010.
- Develop your hobbies and talents, whether they be reading and writing or playing an instrument. Find inspiration from the student photographers who are highlighted in this month’s issue to create your own works of art. The new year will bring a fresh, new outlook on life. Take advantage of this feeling to create your own wonderful works of art.
- Explore new places in Orlando. Check out the back page story about buying locally. The Buy Local cards offer discounts that make it more affordable to take advantage of the unique local shops and restaurants that exist only in Orlando. Also, the restaurant reviews each issue offer a wide selection of restaurants for readers to dine at.
- Learn more about the world around you. The stories on gun control, gun rights and the college pre-paid crisis will help open your eyes to the issues that are prevalent right now.
- Go outside of your usual comfort zone and meet new people at school. Find out their stories and learn more about their unique habits or cultures. Each issue, our staff tries to achieve this resolution through our “One in Three Thousand” article. Everyone has a story. Join us in our attempt to cover every student’s unique and original story.
- Become more involved in school functions, whether by joining clubs, playing sports or volunteering to help the Boone community. The sports pages keep you informed on how each sport’s seasons are going.
The new year brings a fresh start for everyone. Take advantage of this sense of refreshment and make a resolution that will last the entire decade, not just a year.