Making 2013 a success

New Year’s Resolutions:

Senali S. PERERA

Determine to get better at school

Learning to play an instrument

New Year is the time everyone gets so eager to 'start over.' Any regrets you had in the past year, any mistake you made or the things you missed -it is time to shake it all off and start again new and fresh. The New Year dawned crisp and young and we celebrated it with firecrackers, get-togethers and fresh hope. Now that the previous excitements seem to be fading, it is time to wonder how you are going to spend this New Year.

Today is the eighth page of 365. The rest of the pages wait blank and warm and it is you who decide what you are going to write on them. How are you going to write the rest of the story? What are you going to achieve? Give it a serious thought.

Being healthy

Get healthy. If you have appointments with doctors that you have been putting off, go keep them. Eat healthy food. Start a new healthy habit.'Early to bed, early to rise' is a very good habit. You will find any habit difficult when you do it at the beginning. But anything you work for 21 days, then automatically it will become a daily habit. Also, remember to do daily exercises. Walking or some other exercise you prefer will surely give you more energy. You will be able to feel the difference once you have started paying more attention to yourself. For anything, physical fitness and proper diet is important. Keep your mind and body healthier and happier.

Being better at school

Be determined to get better at school. You do not need to suddenly turn yourself into a straight-A student but if you bump up your school performance by just a little bit this year, you will feel better about yourself, you will make your parents proud, and you will be setting yourself up for a brighter future. So it is a good idea all around.

"I plan to attend classes more regularly and to do past papers and observe better ways to study through the internet," says Sadana, an Advanced Level student of a well known school in Gampaha.

While some of us are determined to keep this year in order, most of us still seem a bit confused. Still with no plan. And it seems they are ready to face the days as they come. No. That is not the right way to do this. Run the day, do not let it run you. Make plans.

Challenge yourself to be better today than you were yesterday. And remember; do not compare yourself to anyone but yourself. Compare your work with your abilities. Could I have done this better? Did I do it better than I did it last time? Think.

"I will set a timetable for my day to day work," says Sansar, a high school student from Colombo. "If I feel I am weak in any subject, I will focus mainly on it. I will give more time for that subject." There is definitely something in it for everybody to take. Time management is important. To score marks it is important to concentrate in class and while studying.

For most subjects it is important that you work hard from the beginning. Last minute preparation does not seem to be enough. While you are learning, mark important points so it will be easy for later use. Have group studies. Ask questions. Be curious. If you have any doubts with any subject just ask your teacher at the moment. Do not feel shy to ask. Any problems regarding your studies, discuss with your teacher.

Loving your family

Eating healthy food

Show more love to your family. Be determined to appreciate them more often. They are the most important people of your life. This year, take a couple of deep breaths and resolve to be a little nicer to them. If you have been longing to discuss something with your parents, if you have been bottling something up inside, find courage and go be open with them. Discuss your problems. Say I love you more often. Your parents and siblings will love to hear it. Help your younger siblings. Do not be hard on them.

In this New Year, be eager to learn something new. Ask yourself this: When is the last time you did something for the first time? Learn to play an instrument, get involved in extracurricular activities at school. Join a club and do not let anyone hold you back. How about putting some of that holiday money towards learning a new hobby? It will be way more fun than algebra, and you might just learn a skill that you will love for the rest of your life.

"I will schedule my timings for more extra activities. I will participate in the events which I am especially interested in," says Gayashan, an Ordinary Level student from Kandy. "When I get opportunities to participate, I will do as much as possible," he shares his enthusiasm. Be eager and enthusiastic. Get up each day with determination and go to sleep with satisfaction. Only you can find new strengths in yourself. So start, dig deep. This is your chance, this New Year, to get up and dust yourself off. Make it a fresh beginning.

Starting new habits

Start up a new good habit. To write a journal, to save money, you can have your pick. Give up a bad habit. Of course, it is good to drop as many bad habits as you can, but be determined. Limit the 'junk' of the past year-bad food, killing too much time, too much drama.

Limit these things and start this New Year peacefully and with good company. Keep away from anyone who gets you into trouble and always try to be a role model to your peers. Be a leader.

Start this New Year with fresh strength. There are going to be things that will bring you down, make you sad. Be strong and face them squarely. Always try to be happy. Be happier than you were last year.

Always remind yourself that you are young and beautiful and deserve to be happy. Make this year a successful one. It is in your hands and no one else's. May you be happy and succeed your goals in this year. Have a great year ahead!