With the start of the new year, many of us have created resolutions that we hope to stick to. However, sticking to those resolutions is like lint sticking to an old roller. It doesn’t work very well.

I’m not here to tell you to stick to them or that you even need to have any. I’m here to acknowledge that this is a new year and for students, a new semester.

With that, comes new responsibilities. There are going to be times when you’re asked to do something, pressured to do something, or even just feel responsible.

I’m usually all about building up your resume, but if that comes at the expense of your values, morals, or goals that you have set for yourself, then it’s okay to say no.

I’m probably the last person who should be trying to advocate the whole “it’s okay to say no” notion, as I have a problem sticking to that motto, as well.

However, I was recently confronted with a responsibility and I thought I knew what I would say. Those two simple letters. No. However, after I was confronted, I said those three little letters I thought would not come out of my mouth. Yes. I was just taking the class for the credit; another class to check off for my major. However, what I realized was that I was viewing this class and my time invested into it wrongly. I shouldn’t look at it as just the three credits; I should look at it as a way to gain experience, a way to try something new, and a way to gain a new leadership position. My college, Siena Heights, doesn’t look at us students as just a dollar sign, so I shouldn’t view a class as just the credit numbers.

Did I think it through? Yes. Did I ask questions regarding the new responsibility? Yes. Would it build my resume? Yes. Did I have enough time? I believe so.

So, did I regret it? No. I may have walked away chanting to myself, “it’ll look good on your resume,” as I thought about it, but I left with something greater than a resume builder. I left with the notion that I had accepted something that would help me build my career and yes, my resume, but overall, I left with a better understanding of the importance of the education I am blessed to have.