New Year’s Resolutions

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Posted In: News

Reported and written by Brianna Carter, Mary Carpenter, Danielle Cort, Christina Dilieto, Mary Higgins, Ashlee Irons, Kali Lamparelli, Stephanie Angela Lane, Adam McCormack, Caroline McKay, Brianne Shamburger, Kristen Tomaiolo, Justine Tomon, and Kristin Trapilo

Mollie D’Ambra, who was surrounded by her massive nursing books on the third floor of Salve Regina University’s library, laughed when asked about her 2006 New Year’s resolutions. Unlike the usual “I’m-going-to-lose weight” hopefuls, D’Ambra’s goal is to overcome her shyness and meet new people.

In her freshman year, D’Ambra has all ready been bombarded with the stresses of college life, which include a heavy workload. “Being a nursing major, I really don’t have the time to meet new people. I’m busy studying,” she stated. She has friends but would like to get to know some more people. When asked how if she kept up with her promise so far, she gave a clear “no.” But, she still has high hopes. When making her resolutions, D’Ambra says she’s good about wanting to really keep them.

In the days following Jan, 1, 2006, the buzz word is New Year’s resolutions. Did you make them? Have you already broken them? Both questions commonly crop up in conversation after the start of a New Year.

Here are some resolutions Salve students and staff have made for 2006:

RESOLUTION NO. 1: STRESS LESS

Colleen Krause, a freshman from Oxford, Mass., has vowed to make 2006 less stressful. She claims, “I worry about every little thing!”

The chemistry major looks ahead to her next few years at Salve Regina and already her resolution to not worry is chiseled away. Krause will be expected to take all of the required chemistry and science classes in addition to countless mathematics courses. Surprisingly, though, the chemistry and math workloads are not the source of her stress. It’s Intermediate Spanish.

Salve Regina students are expected to take general education courses including two consecutive semesters of a language, which is causing Krause such anguish this year. Her reason for such trouble with Spanish is, “It’s such an advanced level that I’m not used to yet.”

Still Krause remains optimistic that she can stick to her resolution as long as she remains hard at work and determined to succeed.

RESOLUTION NO. 2: BOOST MY GPA

Ken Holloway, a senior at Salve Regina University, rang in the New Year with his brother and a group of friends in Newport, RI. Holloway, being a Criminal Justice Major, hopes to attend Law School at Western New England College, in Springfield, Mass., and has made a resolution to become a more serious student during Spring Semester.

“I am working on my GPA. I wasn’t happy with [what I got last term] . . . and I want to bump it up,” he said. Holloway is also attempting to obtain an improved class attendance record.

How hard is it for Holloway to keep his strict resolution as a senior? Having already completed his LSAT, Holloway continues to work hard toward his goal of attending law school. He has been completing all his work and has yet to miss a class. While it is difficult, he believes he can keep up the discipline for the remainder of the semester.

Heather Smith, a junior at Salve Regina University, resolved to make 2006 better than 2005 by staying on top of class readings and tests and said she simply wants to have a ‘great’ semester. So far, though, Smith says, “I could be doing better, I guess.”

Graduating next year, Smith is setting her sights on an education after Salve. Thinking more about graduate school, she hopes her goals will be met once her senior year begins.

Jen O’Neill, a senior at Salve Regina University, said she didn’t make any New

Year’s resolutions for 2006. However, O’Neill set a personal goal for her last semester at the university. “I want to higher my GPA,” said O’Neill, who was looking

for a book in the library when interviewed last week.

O’Neill said that hardest part of reaching her goal for the semester is trying to stay focused. “I worry about going out into the real world,” O’Neill said.

With a smile on her face, and a new goal for the semester, O’Neill is looking forward to her graduation.

RESOLUTION NO. 3: DON’T MAKE ANY RESOLUTIONS

Bianca Caetano made no resolutions for the current year. She says, “Things are going well.” When asked if she kept her resolutions, she smiled and said “Not necessarily, no, not for too long.”

While things may be going well for the pre-med student, Caetano still stressed that, like seniors graduating this May, she has to keep doing well. For her, doing well means getting into a prime medical school, more specifically UNE in Maine. “I want to be an OBGYN, I have always wanted to this,” says Caetano, whose lifelong dream has been to become a doctor.

Lauren O’Grady, a senior at Salve Regina University, didn’t make a New Year’s resolution this year either. “I never stick to them,” she said.

In fact, O’Grady said she has only made one New Year’s resolution in her life. “It was my senior year in high school and I made a resolution that I would stop being sarcastic.” She didn’t stick to it for more than a few weeks and since then has given up on resolutions entirely.

The closest O’Grady has come to a new year’s resolution in college has been through friends and roommates. This year her roommate who is also a senior at Salve Regina University made a New Year’s resolution to get in shape. She is going to work as a nurse in the Navy after graduation this spring and wants to be in her best shape. O’Grady said she goes to the gym with her and works out but “only to keep her company.”

“Her resolution has no effect on me,” O’Grady said.

“I might make [a resolution] someday down the road, but for now I’m fine without them,” she said.

RESOLUTION NO. 4: GET FIT, STAY HEALTHY

At the beginning of every year, a majority of the population makes a “New Year’s resolution.” Some are new and some are old. There are always two resolutions that are made every year. They are to quit smoking and to lose weight.

Andrew Hall, a sophomore at Salve Regina University, has decided his New Year’s resolution is to quit smoking. He has found that it is difficult. He said that he realized it is a bad, unhealthy habit.

Hall has realized that he is not alone. He said that a friend of his has also resolved to quit smoking.

Dan Titus, assistant director of the university computer labs, also resolved to quit smoking this year.

“It’s amazingly unhealthy and I felt like crap all the time,” Titus said.

Smoking causes serious health problems and has no positive attributions in anyone’s life.

Although smoking is a very addictive habit, many people do succeed when trying to quit. “It’s a bad way to deal with stress, and even today I am smoke-free and feel great,” Titus said.

Titus has also resolved “to get back into shape.go to the gym and eat well.”

When asked if he felt that he’d be able to follow through on this resolution, Titus seemed somewhat uncertain. “In the long term, yes, but I think there’s going to be a lot of faltering.It’s tough to get up at 6 a.m .and go to the gym.”

Carley Rose, a work-study student at the library, has also resolved to eat healthier foods and exercise every day.

Typically, people struggle to honor their resolutions, and after a few weeks or even days, they regain old habits. But Rose said she is doing an “excellent” job, and goes to the gym everyday without fail.

Kathy Ronge, a freshman at Salve Regina University, has also decided that going to the gym more would be her New Year’s resolution this year.

Since the year began, Ronge’s has been fulfilling her resolution and making it to the gym at least four times a week. “It’s been working,” Ronge said.

Many people find that sometimes the motivation isn’t there, which makes it hard to get out and do what needs to be done. For Ronge, motivation doesn’t seem to be a problem. “I go to the gym with my friends,” said Ronge.

RESOLUTION NO. 5: HELP OTHERS MORE

Jerome Benanti, a Salve Regina Freshman, does not usually make New Year resolutions. But coming into 2006 he decided to make a change. For the New Year, he resolved to donate his time to charity.

Benanti was never interested in coming up with a New Year’s resolution because he had never given the idea much thought. “Going away to college has helped me to evaluate a lot of what I am about, and it has helped me to put things in perspective.” Upon realizing he wanted to do more with his time, he decided he would best like to give it to charity.

Emphasizing his belief in charity he said “In the past I have only donated money to the less fortunate. This time around I’d like to donate more of myself.” Jerome plans on joining up with community service programs this semester to fulfill his resolution but has not yet had the extra time to do it.

“I’d like to think I will stick to it, because it’s the first one I’ve ever made.” Benanti said.