No better way to kick off the new year with some ways to better yourself.
LifestyleDec 31, 2019
30 New Year's Resolutions to Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet
New year, new you?
52
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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1. Song: "22," Album: "Red"
"We're happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time. It's miserable and magical, oh yeah...."
What she really means:
"College, I'm free!"
"So this is what independence feels like."
"Wait, Mom, how do I do laundry?"
"What do you mean I can't wash whites and colors together?"
"Come on, I just ruined my favorite shirt!"
2. Song: "All Too Well," Album: "Red"
"And I know it's long gone, and that magic's not here no more, and I might be okay, but I'm not fine at all...."
What she really means:
"I swear I studied it all last night."
"Why can't I remember it?"
"I'm going to fail, this is not OK."
3. Song: "Blank Space," Album: "1989"
"So it's gonna be forever or it's gonna go down in flames. You can tell me when it's over if the high was worth the pain."
What she really means:
"This is it. This test is going to make or break my GPA."
"Yep, I failed."
"I'm going to get kicked out of the program."
"Why did I pick this major again?"
"Why didn't I choose an easier major?"
4. Song: "Bad Blood," Album: "1989"
"Now we got problems, and I don't think we can solve them."
What she really means:
"But seriously, how do I do this math problem?"
5. Song: "Crazier," Album: "Hannah Montana: The Soundtrack"
"You spin me around, you make me crazier."
What she really means:
"I swear, I was normal until I came to college."
6. Song: "Everything Has Changed," Album: "Red"
"All I knew this morning when I woke up, is I know something now, know something now I didn't before."
What she really means:
"Wow, that all-night cramming session really did pay off."
7. Song: "I Almost Do," Album: "Red"
"I bet this time of night you're still up. I bet you're tired from a long hard week."
What she really means:
"Yep, I'm still up."
"Still studying."
"Is it Friday yet?"
"Can Friday come faster?"
8. Song: "I Know Places," Album: "1989"
"I can hear them whisper as we pass by. It's a bad sign, bad sign."
What she really means:
"What did they say?"
"Was the test hard?"
"Why is no one giving me any information?"
9. Song: "I Wish You Would," Album: "1989"
"It's 2 a.m. in my room. Headlights pass the window pane, I think of you. We're a crooked love in a straight line down. Makes you wanna run and hide, then it makes you turn right back around."
What she really means:
"What if I just moved to Alaska?"
"I bet I wouldn't have to take this exam."
"Yeah, but I'm not paying fifty thousand dollars a year for nothing."
"OK, I guess I'll finish studying."
10. Song: "Lucky Ones," Album: "Red"
"You know that we'll never leave if we don't get out now, now, now."
What she really means:
"Seriously, though, if I leave now I don't have to worry or study anymore."
“But I took your matches before fire could catch me, so don’t look now. I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town.”- Dear John
In traditional Taylor Swift fashion, this breakup song shows how powerful a single woman can be. Don’t let that break up get you down. You live and you learn, girl.
“Rain came pouring down, when I was drowning that’s when I could finally breathe. And that morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean.”- Clean
Sometimes it’s better to let go of the things that keep dragging you down. Taylor tells us just how much better you’ll feel when you start focusing your energy on you.
“And you got your share of secrets and I’m tired of being the last to know, and now you’re asking me to listen cause it's worked each time before. But you don’t have to call me anymore. I won’t pick up the phone. This is the last straw, don’t want to hurt anymore.”- You’re Not Sorry
Here she motivates us to let go of that guy we keep going back to no matter how bad he might be for us. Let the past live in the past. If Taylor has survived all these break-ups, you’ll get through this one.
“People like you always want back the love they pushed aside. But people like me are gone forever when you say goodbye.”- All You Had to Do Was Stay
Don’t let anyone see you as someone they can use at their own will. If you aren’t someone’s first priority, don’t make them yours.
“Got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane, but I’ve got a blank space baby and I’ll write your name.”- Black Space
Be comfortable in your own skin and proud of who you are. It doesn’t matter who was a part of your life in the past, it’s who you’re with now that really matters.
“Let them say what they want, we won’t hear it.”- I Know Places
Actions speak louder than words, my friend. Don’t let haters bring you down because you’re always the bigger person.
“Some day when you leave me I bet these memories hunt you around.”- Wildest Dreams
A loss of a past friend might actually turn into a gain. You can move on to bigger and better things while they spend time worrying about what they did wrong to lose your friendship.
“Now did you think it all through, all these things will catch up to you, and time can heal but this won’t. So if you’re coming my way, just don’t.”- Bad Blood
Back to the whole idea of not taking back the guy that misused you. You deserve much better than being a second choice.
“'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play / And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate / Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake / I shake it off, I shake it off.”- Shake it Off
My anthem! People are going to talk, but how you react to what they say is what truly matters. Don’t let haters bring you down because the only opinions that matter about you are the people that think highly of you.
“We’re happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time. It’s miserable and magical oh yeah, tonight’s the night we forget about the deadlines, it’s time.”- 22
Sometimes you just need to let go of your responsibilities for a night and focus on you. Pamper yourself because you deserve to be a princess.
Make these songs a playlist and jam out to them anytime you need a reminder that you are a strong, independent woman!
4. SENIORS: Graduation, graduation, graduation!
Now that I'm about to enter my second semester as a college sophomore and have seen my younger brother graduate and heard about how some of my college friends survived their senior year of high school, I thought it'd be nice to give out some advice to current high school seniors.
1. Don't be afraid of goodbyes.
Throughout my senior year I avoided thinking about saying farewell to friends I saw every day. It scared me, knowing I had a limited amount of time to be with people I went to school with for all these years. The thought alone saddened me. When graduation and "All-Night Grad" came, I finally said goodbye to people I knew I wasn't going to see anytime soon, and I was surprised at how their reactions were. They all said they'd keep in touch and talked about wonderful high school memories we had together. So don't be afraid to part ways with people you've seen in class every day. You realize that a goodbye doesn't mean forever if you're saying it to someone who'll end up being a forever friend.
2. Where you choose to go to college isn't as important as you think.
We all hear about how amazing it is to go to Ivy league schools or other popular colleges. Chances are a lot of your high school friends got acceptances from huge universities that everyone would love to go to. But truth be told, the university or college that you end up attending doesn't have to be top-notch. If you're getting an education in a field that you love and are enjoying your college years, that's all that matters. Companies really just want job applicants to obtain a college degree; their focus isn't on what school you went to.
3. As tempting as it may be, try not to skip class.
Everyone experiences symptoms of "senioritis" -- the feeling seniors get where they skip class and don't do their work because they believe they are done with school and don't have to worry about it. However, it's important to still go to your classes. I understand it may be tempting on multiple occasions to just not go (we've all been there), but you're still required to go to class. Depending on the county you live in, there are a certain amount of classes / days a student is allowed to skip (excused or unexcused), and if you go over that amount, your high school is allowed to prohibit you from graduating. So do yourself a favor and just go to class.
4. Apply for scholarships and colleges early.
I know it's common sense, but it's always a good reminder. Research scholarships and colleges in the beginning of your senior year, and try to apply for scholarships and college as early as you can, so you don't have to worry about it towards the end of the third and fourth quarter when you have to worry about finals and school.
5. Your grades are important.
One of the main things that college admittance committees look at is your GPA and whether you challenged yourself in the classes you took in high school. But don't think that they won't check your grades from senior year -- that's the first thing they look at!
6. Develop friendships with your teachers.
Towards the end of your junior year to the beginning of senior year you will have to select around two or three teachers who know you enough to write you a recommendation letter. These teachers should know you academically and personally; enough to know your work efforts and what kind of person you are. So try to talk to your teachers. They're there to help you and they want to be your friend. Would you rather have a recommendation from a teacher who barely knows you outside of your grades or a teacher who knows you so well they'd fight for you to get into the college of your dreams?
Photo by Tra Nguyen on Unsplash
7. Who you are in high school doesn't matter in college.
Whatever your "stereotype" in high school is (jock, cheerleader, nerd, popular, unpopular), I want you to know that in college no one really cares about that. College gives you the chance to start over and really find yourself. So if you don't really like your reputation in high school, I'm pleased to tell you that it doesn't travel with you to college.
8. Cherish your family.
You may be getting excited that you won't be around your family every day and get to be "free" when you go to college, but you'd be surprised how much you'll end up missing and calling your family when you're away from them. Especially since you won't be eating your parent's amazing home-cooked meals every night. So savor every day you have with them until freshman move-in day because you may end up missing them more than they miss you.
9. It's OK to not know what you want to do after high school.
Not everyone knows what major, career and college they want to pursue after high school, and that's OK. Everyone is on different paths of life. If you aren't sure about what college you want to go to after applying to a bunch of schools, or if you're still unsure about what your major is going to be, that's OK. You could go to community college and get a sense of what you really want to major in. Do more research on the colleges you applied to, or tour the campus if you don't know which one you want to attend. If you think you want to work the year after you graduate to save money or take a gap year, then go for it. People at every age go back to college every day. If you're not ready for college, then take a break and figure out what you really want to do in life.
10. Some high school friendships will fade and some won't.
Enjoy the time you have left with people you see regularly in the halls and hang out with in class because you won't see half of them after graduation. We all go in different directions after graduation. Some friendships will fade and may catch you off guard. The people you stay in touch with after high school and the people who you don't talk to will also surprise you, believe me. If you were to ask me who I was going to be friends with after high school during my own senior year of high school, I would have made a list of people who I no longer talk to and haven't talked to in a long time. So enjoy your time with your friends this year, and by the end of the year you'll have figured out who's worth your friendship and who isn't.
Photo by Aditya Enggar Perdana on Unsplash
11. If you're not already, get involved.
Kind of self-explanatory. If you aren't involved in any clubs, sports or after-school activities, then I would highly suggest asking around and getting more involved. Colleges love seeing well-rounded students who know how to manage their time well with school and other activities. Doing so also allows you to meet new people and figure out what kinds of clubs and sports you actually enjoy.
12. Enjoy your last year of high school.
Senior year of high school is one of the best years of your life. No responsibilities, no worries (yet), you still live close to all of your friends and the whole school looks up to you. Have fun, but also, get ready for the next stage in your life.
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