Everyone focuses on New Year's resolutions in January, but I like to take it semester by semester and set goals that build off of each other. Each semester is unique and brings new challenges and opportunities which call for updated goals with the turn of the semester.

1. Read your syllabi.

It sounds like common sense, but it is really helpful and frequently overlooked. Syllabi give you a good idea of the way your professor will run the course and often can tell you a lot about the professor. For example, one syllabus I received was about 16 pages long, very detailed, and included almost an entire page of motivational words that inspired students to make the most of this required GenEd course. This syllabus proved to be a very accurate characterization of the professor, who was very rigid, yet put all of his effort into helping students reach their full potentials.

2. Don’t waste your two hours between classes.

In past semesters, whenever my classes weren’t back to back, I would go back to my dorm and waste the time between classes. Sometimes I would take a nap (which was often necessary), or I would just hang around with friends, putting off responsibilities until much later in the evening. This semester, I am planning on using time between my classes to be productive, and get studying or small assignments out of the way. Yes, sometimes naps are necessary, but there are many other productive ways to spend your break.

3. Keep your school supplies more organized.

Whether you are a notebook and folder or a binder person, it makes a class five times more difficult if you can’t find your paper or notes from last Tuesday’s class. If you are organized from the beginning, studying later in the semester will be easier and more productive.

4. Get a good amount of sleep.

College is not normally a time for sleep. With all of the classes you take and the activities you are involved in, there aren’t enough hours in the day. Regardless, it is unhealthy to not sleep. Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to focus and has several other negative effects. Some people rely on coffee to keep them going on a daily basis, which is never a good idea. Coffee is okay in moderation, but should not be a replacement for sleep. To avoid this altogether, try to get more sleep this semester.

5. Keep a positive outlook on your classes.

Last semester I was very negative about one of my classes. It was a science GenEd that I had absolutely no interest in. I dreaded going to class, doing the assignments, and studying for tests. If I had treated this class with the same enthusiasm I had for my other classes, this class would have been much easier. Therefore, as I begin yet another science GenEd, I will do my best to keep a positive outlook throughout the semester.

6. Befriend people in your classes.

It is easy to stay within your comfort zone with your group of friends, but it is always beneficial to meet new people in your classes. You may have a lot more in common with these people than you expect, so be open to creating bonds with your classmates.

7. Get to know your professors.

Your professors are there to help you. Odds are, if you put the effort into forming a relationship with your professor, he or she will be more than willing to help you, whether it is by helping you understand the lesson you’re struggling or by writing you letters of recommendation.

8. Keep in touch with your professors from last semester.

If you were close with any professors from the last semester, maintain your relationship with them. Send them an email if something you learned from your class shows up in another class or if you see something that reminds you of a lesson they taught you.

9. Spend time networking this semester.

It’s never too early to meet people in the field of work you are aiming for. When you meet people who have experience with your dream job, you will learn several things about the career you most likely did not know, which can encourage you to continue pursuing this career or show you that it’s not the job you are truly meant to do. Both of these are incredibly beneficial.