Everybody loves a fresh start. Especially when that applies to the upcoming school year. Maybe you didn't get the GPA you were hoping for last semester. Maybe you didn't get the courage to join a particular club. Maybe you're still looking to make new friends. And maybe you still feel like you really just don't know what you're doing here.

What's great about starting a new school year is that everything that happened last year is in the past. Sure, maybe some of the things you did last year will still haunt you, but that doesn't mean you can't start over. Whether you're an incoming college freshman, or entering your senior year, these are six of the goals that every student should have going into the new year.

1. Utilize Office Hours

This is a big one. Like I mentioned above, if you didn't get that GPA you were hoping for last semester, who's to say you can't change that now. If you haven't been going to office hours to meet with your professors, maybe you should give it a try this year. And for those incoming freshman out there, this is a HUGE resource, that you don't want to miss out on.

Sometimes, it seriously helps getting to know your professor one-on-one, especially if it is for a class with hundreds of other students. Despite what you may think, most of your professors actually want to see you succeed, and the majority are more than willing to give you that extra help in office hours.

2. Get Involved

This is something I was guilty of not doing my first year of college. Most people have this idea that when you go to college you just gain friends instantly, but that really isn't always the case. The majority of people you meet come not from sitting in class, but by getting involved. Look for clubs that match your interests.

But at the same time, look for clubs that have nothing to do with your interests, on the chance that maybe you'll pick up a new hobby or passion. If you're thinking of joining Greek life, do it! The last thing you want to do is look back on your college years and regret that you didn't get involved as much as you could have. Take advantage of what is around you, and these will be the best years of your life.

3. Make New Friends

This goes along with the previous point. I know first hand what it is to be shy and anxious, and someone who doesn't always have the guts to start up a conversation first. But new friends aren't going to pull towards you like magnets.

Step out of your comfort zone, and make new friends. No one should have to go through their college years alone. We all need someone to go to sporting events with, to study with, to eat with, and to stay up all night talking about how much life can suck sometimes with. Don't try and go through this alone. Start the new year with some old, and some amazing new friends.

4. Challenge Yourself

While it's great going through school the easy way, start this new year by challenging yourself. If you are dying to take a particular course, but have heard negative things about the professor, or about how hard the work is, maybe you should still give it a try.

After all, you can't go through life always taking everyone else's word for what you should do. If you want to join an honors college, but are scared of adding one more thing to your plate, do it anyway. Challenge yourself, but not too much.

5. Stay Healthy

When I say challenge yourself, I also mean don't push yourself to the breaking point. One of the biggest goals that every student should have, and maintain throughout the year, is to stay healthy- both mentally and physically. While grades are important, so is your health.

If you are feeling too stressed out, or having a really hard time adjusting to a the new college lifestyle, take advantage of your school's counselors. I cannot stress this enough. Having free access to the health center, including the counselling center, is something you should be taking full advantage of. College can be very draining at times, and it is important to put your health and well being first.

6. Look Into Study Abroad

This may not apply to everyone, but for those of you who are even slightly interested in studying abroad at some point during your college career, you should start looking into that sooner than later.

Go to the study abroad office, set up an appointment, and talk to someone about your options. This is another one of those things that you don't want to put off, and then regret it when you graduate. If you want to see the world, while getting an education, take advantage of studying abroad!

The start of the new school year is right around the corner. A fresh start is right around the corner. Set goals for yourself this year, and try to stick to them. Make the most of your college years, and go get that 4.0!