In the coming new year, my goal for myself is to be bold.

The Oxford Dictionary defines bold as “showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.” I’ve learned that playing it safe in every aspect of life will not make you stand out. I don’t want to blend in with the crowd and follow the leader – I’m not saying I’m going to get a tattoo sleeve, or go skydiving anytime soon, but I just want the ability to be differentiated from everyone else.

I find that very often when people make resolutions, they tend to not follow them past the first couple of months. I wanted to choose a resolution that was realistic, achievable and something I was genuinely passionate about. 

My goal for 2022 is to be bolder. I would consider myself extroverted, and I love to meet new people, but I tend to consistently form barriers in new relationships and distance myself from people until I really get to know them. To an extent, this behavior is healthy – but, I want to see the positive in people, instead of solely focusing on the negative and making them earn their spot in my life. So, for this new year, I want to work harder on my schoolwork and my relationships with the people that I love.

For a brief moment, I would like to share my gratitude for my friends, who have been with me through everything, and, without them, I would not be who I am today. They encourage me to push myself and to get out of my comfort zone. Personally, I am counting on them to help me achieve my goal in 2022. When I feel uncomfortable or anxious, I know that they’ll be there to calm me down – and help me stand tall.

Sophomore year has taught me that other people’s opinions of me are not the most important thing to be focused on. As long as I feel comfortable in my own skin and I choose to stay confident, I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

I don’t need to pretend to be someone I’m not.