REBECCA COSTELLO 

A new school year means all sorts of new opportunities to make yourself promises that you’ll never keep, but in truth, fulfilling these promises only takes a little persistence.

Students have been making school resolutions for probably as long as schools have been around. Promises of improvement, of bettering yourself and of finding the motivation to try something new always seem to be the goals for the beginning of a school term.

It doesn’t take a genius to know that a strong percentage of students start the school year with the usual spiel of “I’m going to ace this class,” or “Maybe I’ll actually show up to an 8 a.m. morning lab.”

But by the end of the week — maybe the end of the first month for those extra-determined few — they all seem to fall apart.

This isn’t always the case, of course. You have your list now — maybe physically instead of just mentally made — and you’re prepared to do at least five things on a list of 20. It may not seem like a lot, but that’s still a great achievement for many.

When you were in elementary school, a teacher might have put a page in front of you and said, “Write what you want to do this year in school.” Of course, this led to the usual childlike answers, something as innocent as “Pizza parties every week” or “I’m going to go to the moon.”

Now that we’re older, we’re not asked to do this, but something inside of us still makes us aim for a higher achievement. Maybe you will get higher grades; maybe you will kiss that special person. There’s nothing set in stone, but you’ve thought of it now, right?

Self-doubt, motivation and a genuine interest in following through with a resolution don’t always happen. You’ve thought of them, but you’re not 100 per cent sure if you actually even want to follow through.

Finding the will to do these things can be a struggle. You want to get higher grades — but studying seems impossible. You want to go hang out with friends more — but when do you have the time? It’s a never-ending cycle.

That seems to be the downfall of resolutions. We build ourselves up with these notions of making lists and pushing ourselves towards a goal, but in the end, we end up procrastinating on the positive things.

Questioning yourself, building up whimsical excuses to not do something or just lack of motivation will only lead to dead ends and unfinished tasks. So, what can you do to make yourself follow through with them?

If you’re a determined student, writing your goals down point by point can be a huge bonus. Hang it up on the fridge or a bulletin board and that way you’ll see it and be reminded constantly of what you’re aiming for. Even having a journal or weekly planner can help.

Maybe you’ve done that and there’s still no motivation. Set and keep timers on your phone. If you’re planning to show up to a class, find out the five W’s: where is it, what is it, why do you want to do it, who else could be interested in taking it — or who’s teaching it — and when it’s held. It may seem pretty basic, but for someone trying to motivate themselves, that can mean everything.

If you’re down to your last few straws and can’t handle the pressure of fulfilling your hopes of the year, talk to someone. Find a counsellor, an academic advisor or even just a friend and talk it out with them. Ask them for advice on the best approach to achievement — venting your hope for achievement might even push them toward their own goals.

In the end, it’s your choice. School resolutions just might not be for you. You might cringe at the sight of a “To Do List,” or you might love them.

Planning out a list is always a good way to keep yourself motivated for the future. There’s no harm in trying and if it doesn’t pan out, well, at least you can say you tried something different.