If you are like me, the first semester just flew by. But back with some enthusiasm and vigor, I am ready for this upcoming semester. I hope you all had great new years and that 2008 has treated you well thus far. Like many of you, I have made several resolutions for the year 2008, and hope to follow them through completion. Rather than me explain my resolutions (who really cares anyways?), I will take the top 10 most popular resolutions and explain how you can achieve those here at Rensselaer.
1. Lose weight. Isn’t this a goal of everyone all the time!? With spring break only a few months away, we will all by trying to shed off some of the winter pounds we put on. The Mueller Center offers a great space to help you achieve this goal. If you don’t have the personal commitment to go the gym everyday, you might try signing up for one of the many classes that the Mueller Center offers. From relaxing yoga to energizing salsa dance, you may find a class that pairs well with your interests and teaches you a thing or two.
2. Pay off debt. Well, Rensselaer isn’t probably helping with this one right now…but the next one may solve all your problems
3. Save money. You may be asking, how do I do this with all the costs of attending school? Well, I don’t really have all those answers, but clubs such as business investments and the entrepreneurial club may know. Not only will they be able to distinguish the difference between a Roth and traditional IRA, but they offer a great outlet for those ambitious students interested in business.
4. Get a better job. Well, Rensselaer is definitely helping with this one. If the ranking of our school keeps climbing, the career fair keeps getting better, and you attend the seminars put on by the Career Center, you may be able to find the perfect job right after graduation.
5. Eat right. Well, I’m going to take some literary liberty with this one, and not only focus on healthy food but also the gourmet food we enjoy eating. The Union sponsors Terra Café, an all organic and healthy lunch organization that could replace your midweek burger with something really healthy. The Union has also brought in Thunder Mountain Curry, where you will find delicious pan-Asian food. And with some adventurous nature, you may find some great places in downtown Troy, like one of my favorites: Tosca.
6. Drink less alcohol….
7. Reduce stress overall. I think we all feel the pressures of constant assignments, tests, and obligations, yet there are so many ways to relax on campus. The games room will be undergoing a renovation soon which will create spaces for relaxation, even napping, and areas to enjoy sporting events and practice your skills at billiards.
8. Take a trip. This one is pretty self explanatory, but many of our sports clubs frequently take trips to other schools and areas to compete. You will also find the occasional bus trip to NYC at highly discounted prices, or may grab a cheap bus with a bunch of other students to a sporting event. There are a lot of ways to travel beyond the RPI campus.
9. Volunteer to help others. The Rensselaer Union offers a plethora of community services organizations. From helping build a home to tutoring, you will find a way to give back to the community. With all of our talent and ability, it would be a shame not to help out those in need.
10. Get a significant other. Some of you may think this is an impossible feat at Rensselaer, but it is actually quite the contrary. If you take a chance, and try some of the resolutions above, it will be impossible not to meet new people and forge new friendships. And with your now well rounded personality that enjoys clubs, attends sporting events, saves and invests money, stays in shape, and helps give back to the community, you wont have a problem finding someone for 2008.
I wish you all the best of luck for the following semester, and hope you set and achieve all your goals!
