It’s that time. When the waiting signs go up in the Rec Center, the huddles of smokers outside buildings somewhat diminish and classroom attendance is at an all time high – it’s the start of a new year.

Without fail, at the start of each new year, students come back from break more energized and a bit reformed. Everyone seems to have new year’s resolutions. Goals to be fit by spring break, give up smoking, bring up their grade point average, the list goes on.

But how long do these resolutions really last? And does making a resolution for the new year make it any easier to achieve?

In most cases, the answer is not long and no.

Most friends I have surveyed about these self promise proposals said resolutions they have made in past years were broken shortly thereafter -typically within a month- and some friends said they have already broken new year resolutions made for this year.

So why do they and many others continue to make these resolutions year after year with prior knowledge of the success rate with following through?

Most people said making new year’s resolutions provides hope for the future days ahead in the coming year.

But I find trying to resolve or change your life by a clock is part of the problem as to why these goals are rarely met.

The idea of resolutions, which are essentially goals geared toward bettering ones self, is not what makes the proposals poor, but the time element to which the initiative is being taken.

Most of these goals, if they were a priority, would have already been met or implemented at the start of acknowledgment.

The start of a new year would not be needed as an additional incentive to move plans to action, which is also a main reason for the lack of follow through.

These proposal failures can be attributed to the lack of motivation demonstrated by the person.

The idea that the golden opportunity to meet such revelations dominantly lies at the start of a new year is impractical.

The middle of the year is not to blame for procrastination and indiscretion but the unproductive people themselves.

To me, the new year means an alteration to the last two digits on the date line of my checkbook.

The semester may be new and a fresh start in new courses, but the entire lifestyle and surroundings we endure is constantly ever changing, not waiting for four digits lighting up upon the dropping of the ball in New York.

Life changes continuously and so do priorities.

Setting goals is beneficial at any time. A calendar change should not be a source of inspiration. It will not make meeting goals any easier or likely to succeed.

If there is something that a person wishes to improve upon or achieve, the time to work toward achievement is at the time of acknowledgment and the key to meet it is determination.