I Will Be Better.

Today I turned twenty-three. Twenty-three years of my life have passed, each one better than the last. This past year, I have met some of the most amazing people I have the pleasure to know. I have done things that I never thought I would do. I have seen things I can not believe I have seen. I went to Tanzania and had the most epic four months. I went to Denmark and reconnected with some of the people that matter to me. I did all of those things and yet I still look forward to this next year.

Most people make their resolution at the turn of the year. I will lose weight. I will socialise more.

I will treat the people in my life better. I will study harder. I will be greater than I was. For me, these resolutions come now, on my birthday. Three years ago, it was quit World of Warcraft, run for JCR and be someone. Two years ago it was get that 2(i) in my degree and run for VP EWD. Last year it was get a job, earn my money and go volunteering abroad. This year...this year it is to be better. It has to be better. I want to change who I am for the better.

This has already started. Over the last week I have started running. Not the two kilometres every once in a blue moon that I was doing before but two, then four, then eight, then ten within seven days. I'm going to join the gym on Thursday and get my body to a state where I am happy with it. I have spent too much time talking the talk, that I want to lose weight and slim down and bulk up. Now is the time to put my money where my mouth is.

I have to study harder than I ever have before. This is going to be the most intense academic year of my life and also the most important. Time is not on my side when it comes to applying for training contracts. I'm not getting younger and I want to get into work as quickly as possible so I can start climbing that career ladder. This is going to take immense effort to get the best grades I can, to put enough time into my personal study and reading to be able to pass my exams as well as answer the commercial awareness questions that will inevitably pop up. I need to put all my time, effort, blood, sweat and tears into my applications. Only the best will do for the firms I want to work for so I have to be the best. That does not only apply to academics or work related stuff. I have to be the best human being I can be to stand out from the crowd.

I need to be better at getting what I want. Too many times I act too passively and I let opportunities slip past me. The potential I see in these opportunities and myself crushes me when I realise that they are out of my reach. I need to be more decisive. I need to reach with both hands and grasp these and make the most out of my potential. In social contexts as well, I need to be better. I need to care more. I need to be less selfish. I am so lucky to be surrounded by the people I am. I need to make sure that I am a good enough person to keep it that way.

This year, I will be better.