Contrary to popular tradition, I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions. I know I won’t follow through with them, so why even bother. However, even if I don’t, I try to reflect on what happened in the past year, and what things could I do differently or continue to do from last year. Instead of making resolutions, I make promises to myself.

Unlike a resolution, promises seem to have a more emotional connection; these are things I actually intend to keep, and I may fear breaking them. Here’s my list of promises to myself for the new year.

I promise to finally decide what I want to be when I'm older.

I promise to get those A’s. Not because Mom and Dad want me to, not because scholarships, not because med school. Because it’s a reflection of how I want my work ethic to be.

Speaking of work ethic, I promise to find a job so I can get started in the workforce and make some money, because I like money and hate using my credit card.

I promise to save money too. No more buying supplies that I don’t need. No more buying nerdy t-shirts. No more Culver’s. And I don’t care how much I really want that gray USF baseball tee with the green sleeves, I’ll save my money (but let’s be honest, I’ll end up buying it on sale off campus somewhere).

I promise to drink less soda, for the sake of my health. I’ll get my roommate to join me.

I promise to play more tennis. Maybe I’ll even start running again.

I promise to be nicer to my brother. I think I say that every year.

I promise to get that ugly dent in my SUV’s side door fixed before it starts rusting and becomes irreparable.

I promise to see my best friend from grade school more often. We’re both the same grade, and I told her I’d try to visit her as often as I could monthly once college. She went to a local college, while I moved 45 minutes away from her. Sadly, I couldn’t keep that promise, but I hope I can find the time to make sure that I can this year.

I promise to continue to not care about falling in love or being liked, because I don’t need to find the perfect significant other right now, and education is more important than that. I’d rather be rich and single than poor and in love.

I promise to learn Photoshop just because I want to. Seems neat.

I promise to stop throwing my seal plush at my roommate.

I promise to not keep the promise to stop throwing my seal plush at my roommate.

I promise to be as brutally honest and blatant as I possibly can, because sometimes sensitivity can be overrated.

And I promise to listen to and entertain the opinions that oppose mine. Screw the safe space; opposing opinions matter. I like views opposite mine, and I won’t seek to break any ties with those that I disagree with, because that’s just weak.

This may be it for now, but I know this list will get longer, because who knows what kinds of things will happen in 2017. Here’s to the new year, and I hope you enjoy it as well.