Like most Americans, AACC students rang in the new year with a list of resolutions to lose weight, be nicer and study harder.

In an informal poll on campus in early January, 22 of 32 students said they have at least one New Year’s goal. But 10 said they don’t.

“There’s always more than one thing you can work on,” said third-year transfer studies student Anthony Hawkins. “I’m not going to wait until New Year’s to do one thing. I just do it now.”
Second-year undecided student Fabio Fuentes said he took his teacher’s advice about New Year’s goals.

“My women’s health teacher told me that having a New Year’s resolution sets people up for failure sometimes because they try to accomplish too much and they get overwhelmed by those accomplishments, so they’re not able to accomplish what they really want, so it’s small changes that sort of make you change,” Fuentes said.

Some students said making resolutions helps them improve themselves.

Second-year computer science and transfer studies major Hilton Harris said he wants to do what is best for him.

“Live for myself,” said Harris, who explained his goal. “Just do things that are better and look out for me. Put myself in the best position and not really worry about what anyone else thinks. Just do what’s best for me.”

Some students want to get better grades and raise their GPAs.

Second-year engineering student Suliman Amarkhil said he wants to get better grades so he eventually can transfer to a four-year school.