My New Year's Resolution by Bailey

My New Year's Resolution by Bailey - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

Bailey Reimer
New Year’s Resolution
1/11/16

My body lurched in my bed as I heard my obnoxious rooster alarm blare next to my head. I blindly sat up, turned on my phone screen and fumbled my fingers along the surface to turn off the unbearable ruckus. At last I turned off my alarm and collapsed back onto my bed in defeat. I glanced at my roommate next to me who was sound asleep. I looked down at my phone screen to check the time: 6:15 am. I groaned and turned on my side, pressing snooze on my phone and closing my eyes. Again, my rooster alarm blared in my ear and I jumped in my bed in astonishment. I squinted down at my phone screen again and read the time: 6:30 am. I decided I needed just 5 more minutes of rest before work. I was scheduled to clock in at 7:00 am but at this point, sleep was my first priority. Deciding I would lay in bed for 5 more minutes, there was no need for my rooster alarm anymore. I turned off the rooster alarm, laid my phone on my nightstand and closed my eyes.

I dreamed of gliding in the night sky, surrounded by stars. I could see my apartment far below and in the distance, the gleaming moon that seemed to be pulling me in closer and closer. As I inched closer to the moon, it no longer looked like a moon, but a clock. I clock with a high pitched squeal pounding in my ear drums and forcefully pulling me in. I screamed and struggled away from the clock’s grasp, but it was no use. I crashed into its glassy surface. I sat up in bed covered in sweat and tangled in my sheets. Rubbing my forehead in disbelief I peeked down at my phone to look at the time: 7:18 am. I immediately staggered out of bed and sprinted to my closet to get dressed and ready for my shift that I was already late for.

Being late has always been a bad habit of mine since I was introduced to the remarkable pleasures of sleeping in. Waking up in the morning, I would have no intentions of getting ready early and being on time whether it is for work, class, or family social events. I have never been an early bird and have always preferred sleeping just an “extra 5 minutes”. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that there is no such thing as “sleeping for an extra 5 minutes”. If it were not for the strong and bonding relationships I developed with local coworkers, family, and professors, this unnecessary amount of tardiness would lead me into an immense amount of trouble!

In the blossoming year of 2016, I couldn’t have a clearer New Year’s Resolution. My one and only wish for this year is to avoid the corrupt and reiterating habit of being late. Bad habits are difficult to break once one has fully established it into their life. Being late has always been a bad habit of mine since I was introduced into the “adult responsibilities” world. Unfortunately I am learning adult responsibilities in an irresponsible way. So far I have been lucky enough to avoid the serious consequences of being late, but this luck will not always exist throughout the remainder of my life. I believe I am capable of reversing this bad habit and learning the true responsibility of being on time and prepared. This is my plan for my New Year’s Resolution of 2016. A new year means a time for change. That change starts with being on time and ready to take on my responsibilities for the day.