Resolution by Elizabeth

Resolution by Elizabeth - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

According to online dictionaries, a New Year resolution is a decision made on the first day of the year about the things one intends to do or stop doing during that year. About fifty percent of Americans make resolutions every New Year. The most common 2015 resolutions were the following: lose weight, get organized, spend less or save more, enjoy life to the fullest, stay fit and healthy, learn something exciting, quit smoking, help others in their dreams, fall in love, and spend more time with family. The quality of these ambitions are outstanding, but the determination to fulfill them is where most Americans fall short.
I have never been one to make a New Year resolution, but this year is extremely different than the past years of my life. This year my life will change in many courses. I will graduate high school and begin my college career. I will also become a legal adult and make multiple decisions I have never made in the past. With these events in mind, I have made the resolution to focus on myself and especially my near future. I have always done this to an extent. I have worked hard and done my best to get to this point, but I will now focus on my achievements and how to further them. I will take what I have learned and use it in my advantage to further my knowledge.
I will also focus on how my success will benefit others. I have always loved to help people and known I wanted to include that aspect in my career. I love volunteering at Special Olympics and homeless shelters. I also voluntarily babysit a family of thirteen children with Down syndrome. I want to continue and further my outreach voluntarily and gain an education in a career path to continue doing so every day. This year I will focus on branching out and doing more for others.
I plan to make this a great year. I will take care of myself and others who cannot always do so for themselves. With a positive attitude, this scholarship, and my determination to live out this resolution, I will outlast most Americans who fall short. Losing weight, staying organized, and other common resolutions are terrific and valuable, but I have put my own twist to the traditional resolutions this year.