It's easy to get stuck in your old habits of spending more time with your friends/electronics than doing the tasks that have more importance, such as cleaning and organizing your dorm after bringing in at least 30 plastic bags filled with supplies, planning out your homework schedule so you don't become overwhelmed, and beginning your assignments. It seems I hit a wall in Sophomore year of high school because I didn't put my all into everything I did. My schoolwork became a duty I tried to do quickly just to get it over with, and I prioritized relaxing over trying my best.

It is now the beginning of my sophomore year of college, and I feel greatly motivated. It took me a while, but I now realize that I am the only person stopping myself from doing well. I am the person who decides what to prioritize, and that also makes me the person to decide what I can neglect or cut down on. Although it seems silly that I did not realize this sooner, I believe the reason why I didn't figure it out sooner was because I was so caught up in my old habits.

During my freshmen year of college, I tried to attain friendships so my social life would be healthy and so I would have people to go to in times of stress or if I wanted to get a meal with someone. Although I studied a bit more than I did in high school, I still didn't get the exact grades I wanted, and I didn't feel accomplished.

This academic year, my goal is to improve. I want to improve my eating habits, my sleep schedule, my study-time, my social life, etc. It may seem like there's too much on my plate, but improvement does not have to be drastic. I want to gradually better myself so that not only do I feel less stressed, but also so I can feel accomplished at the end of the year because I'll know that I definitely gave it my all.

It's not fair to yourself to crawl through life and merely make it through. It's important to check yourself and find the unhealthy or bad habits you have now, and make a change. Your change can be to use the Pomodoro method and study more efficiently, or to drink one more glass of water every day, or even to just wake up ten minutes earlier than you normally would.

Change can be intimidating, but it is also good for you if you know what can/needs to be changed. Take your time and figure out what you'd like to be different this year, and set realistic goals. If you have the resources to do something better, take advantage of it. You are capable of accomplishing your goals, bettering yourself, and becoming happy, and you deserve all of those.