The multicolored fireworks have long since dissipated and the champagne bubbles have fizzled out, but one thing that lasted through a confetti-filled haze are the self-made promises.

Although making a resolution is a New Year’s pastime a recent poll said fewer Americans are choosing to make resolutions.

According to a Marist Poll, 62 percent of the overall American population will not make resolutions for 2012, 59 percent of Americans younger than 45 years old plan to do so. For Americas older than 45 years old, the resolution-making ratio drops to 28 percent.

A Marist Poll is conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion-which polls on politics, the economy, sports, etc.

Bobbi Kingery, a career counselor for Career Services, said she thinks resolutions are important, but only when they are realistic.

Kingery said she thinks an unrealistic goal could be planning for an overall 4.0 GPA because it can seem like an overwhelming task.

“New Year’s resolutions are simply goals, and I do think it is critical for everyone, including students, to know how to set and achieve goals,” she said.

Dominique Mabrey, a sophomore political science major, said she is not a believer in making New Year’s resolutions.

“I’m not the type of person to plan stuff. I just go with what happens,” Mabrey said. “Nothing ever goes as you’ve planned.”

Kingery said she thinks a New Year’s resolution is a good way for college students to review what went well and what did not go well during the fall semester and set a plan to do better in the spring.

“A more achievable resolution might be, I’m going to complete the assigned reading before each class session and review my notes after each class session,” Kingery said in an email.

These would be steps that could support the 4.0, but would develop a positive habit that will allow the student to continue meeting their GPA goals, she said.

“We hold ourselves accountable by really being invested in our goals, and realistic as we work to achieve them,” Kingery said. “It’s not all or nothing.”

Kingery said a positive attitude is something that determines whether or not a goal or resolution is achieved.

“We will slip up, but we have to shake it off and keep working toward that goal,” Kingery said.

Mabrey said she does want to apply herself more to her studies.

Kwana Newell, a sophomore communication studies major, said she wants to focus on her health for 2012.

“(I want to) make healthier decisions like drinking water every day and getting up to exercise when I have the free time,” Newell said.

Newell said she does have a history of not fulfilling her resolutions.

“I never really took it to be important, but I think this resolution is great,” she said.

Sally van der Graaff, a worker at Booth Library, said she wants to eat better and exercise more.

Michael Livingston, a junior music major, said he also wants to lose weight this year-a resolution he has had for a few years.

Livingston also said he does not consider losing weight a resolution, but a goal.

“I’ve always been big and I’d like to not be big,” Livingston said.

Livingston said he plans on eating right and eating small portions, but does not foresee exercising to lose the weight.

“Because I am a music major I don’t have a lot of free time outside of class,” Livingston said.

Lauren Humphrey, a freshman chemistry major, said she wants to procrastinate less.

“It was difficult last semester because I would put off stuff and not do things on time like I should have,” Humphrey said.

Humphrey said she hopes her grades improve this upcoming semester.

Arnold Estanda, a graduate student, said he also plans on losing weight.

Estanda said he thinks overall health is a big resolution for people because resolutions occur after holidays.

“It’s after the holidays and you get all your bad eating in, then in the new year we all get to start fresh,” Estanda said.

Unlike Livingston, Estanda said he does plan on frequenting the Student Recreation Center more.

Zac Nelson, a sophomore pre-engineering major, said he wants his resolution this year to affect those around him as well.

Nelson said he wants to focus on being “less of a jerk.”

“I want to do at least 100 good deeds by the end of the year,” Nelson said.

Nelson said he currently has 97 good deeds left to do after he donated his iPod, shoveled driveways and walked dogs-all without a profitable benefit.

“Everyone on a small level is self-centered, but the world would suck if no one helped each other,” Nelson said.

Nike Ogunbodede can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].