With new semesters comes new goals. Perhaps you want to be more focused on your classes and getting grades that are higher than the bare minimum to get by. Maybe you wan to loosen up and not be so hard on yourself when something doesn't go quite as planned in the academic world. Or maybe this semester you want to learn to be more social and join some clubs to make friends and to actually have a campus habitat other than your classrooms, dorm, and dining hall. Any way one chooses to look at it, a new school semester is a fresh start- full of chances to start over and do better than the previous semester. Here, I have composed a list of some goals that I think are important to consider working on as a new semester begins, and how to do so.

1. Having More Confidence

Until this last semester, I have been having trouble with having enough confidence. I've always felt like I wasn't smart enough, good enough, talented enough, and so forth. But it seems that I have grown out of that state of mind and have began to love myself for who I am. I hope that my newfound confidence stays with me and continues to grow and develop as the new semester rolls on.

2. Work on My Organization Skills

I feel like I have gotten better at being organized for classes as the semesters have gone by, but of course, there is always room for improvement here.

3. Not Stressing Too Much Over Classwork and Grades

I get it- grades are undoubtedly important. And the only way to get those crucial good grades? Do. Your. Work. These may seem like no brainers, but worrying about these two things too much can ultimately cause more damage than good. I have literally made myself sick by worrying over classes and what most would consider the simplest assignments, all because I wanted so badly to get a 4.0 GPA. That is a good goal to shoot towards, but don't let it stress you out too much. As my dad would always tell me growing up, "Do your best, because that's all you really can do."

4. Be Social

No, I'm not insane. Yes, I do realize that with all the homework and study time that college demands from your schedule, one barely has time to pencil in eating and sleeping, much less having a social life. But its important to be able to. College is typically where you meet most of your best friends for life, and you can't very well do that crammed up in your dorm room all night with your nose in a textbook. Get out of your shell of a dorm room on a Saturday night and enjoy yourself-responsibly, of course. There's a time for work, as well as a time for play.

5. Cherish Every Day

As cheesy as this goal is, it is indeed a very important and often overlooked one by many. Each semester has its good days, bad days, and days where the only though racing through your mind is "I'll be SO frickin' glad when this is all over with." But let me assure you, that sour feeling is only temporary, and that once your days as a college student are numbered, you'll begin to regret wishing away your time and long to have it back. I know this from experience-I will be beginning my Spring semester of my junior year at Lindsey Wilson, and I miss this campus already!

I sincerely hope that my list of goals and how to achieve them have been a help to college kids everywhere, and I wish a wonderful spring semester to everyone!