The new year is rapidly approaching and people are ready to begin a fresh start. As all the chaos of the end of year is finally dwindling, there is a strong desire to change the old and create the new. What a perfect excuse but the new year? The new year offers so many tantalizing opportunities that give people an incentive to change. The potential of a new year is extremely motivating. However, there are those critics that claim New Year's Day is like any other day -- it's the same as any other Tuesday or Wednesday. I agree in some respect. Change will only occur if we allow it -- if we take our own initiative to seize the opportunities the new year offers. While certain opportunities are placed in one's path, others choose to create their own will. Whether you've developed your own new year resolutions or you're waiting for an opportunity in the coming months, it's your responsibility to ensure it's accomplished.

Often the new year is glimmering in the beginning, but as that excitement fades so does the motivation to tackle one's responsibilities. One stressful night of essays and that "no sweets" resolution ends up in the trash can next to the box of cosmic brownies and Twinkies. Responsibility in the new year is to accomplish the goals one has deemed significant as their resolutions. Intending to change both physically and mentally, these resolutions focus on the self. Personally, I intend to take responsibility for the changes I desire to make. While I am not merely creating these changes due to the new year, it's a great starting point. However, they aren't simply resolutions, they are responsibilities that I need to hold myself to. By turning frivolous statements into an actual standard, I find myself not so easily forfeiting my resolutions.

Not only is the new year consumed with self-made responsibilities, but it's also a time when people obtain new responsibilities for the outside world as well. It's a time for self-improvement, but also a reality check for people whose life is progressing as expected. The new year is a reality check for myself. As I've grown comfortable writing essays and attending lectures, the new year just simply brings graduation closer. Those sleepless nights studying for finals are now going to become sleepless nights of resume editing and internship searching. Looking for an internship? That is terrifying. I've spent my entire life in school and the new year has brought the reality of adulthood. Like any self-made resolution, I have to act upon the responsibility of an internship. If I don't, then I'll miss my opportunity and what will I be progressing toward? Ultimately, I can only make change if I actively work toward the goals I've set for both myself and the future.

It's difficult to maintain resolutions, often because people don't hold a high priority to their resolutions. When life becomes complicated, often those goals are the first to fly out the window. However, the new year offers so many opportunities of change -- opportunities that are given or opportunities that people create for themselves. These opportunities have no value and will reach no progression if people don't take responsibility to actually achieve them. While I am overwhelmed with the new year's responsibilities, I intend to hold myself to my goals, otherwise I cannot expect to progress.