Thinking Positive in the New Year by Tara

Thinking Positive in the New Year by Tara - January 2016 Scholarship Essay

I never was the type of person to make resolutions on New Year’s Eve. In my experience, people get excited about their resolutions only to forget about them a week later. However, for 2016, I have made a resolution I certainly intend to keep. This year, I have resolved to combat my negative thinking.

I was once a relatively optimistic person, but when I moved to college, my friends and family noticed a transformation in me. I was never fond of change, and moving away from my life-long home was certainly a big one; my transition to college was accompanied by overthinking, fear, anxiety, and depressive moods. My new demeanor caused my motivation to reach an all-time low at an inconvenient time. For a period of time, my grades reflected this apathetic lifestyle I had developed. With hard work, I was able to get myself back on track, and I vowed to never let myself get that low again. While it would be ill-advised for me to run away from what I see as the cause of my problems, I can change my attitude about my continuing adaptation to my life as a college student.

This year, I have vowed to actively work on turning negative thoughts into positive ones. Instead of being filled with anxiety for the new semester, I am teaching myself to see it as a fresh start for grades. My new, intimidating professors are becoming resources for new knowledge. Challenging assignments are opportunities to grow as a student. Stressful tests are chances for me to showcase what I know and recognize what I need to learn better. Through positive thinking, my goal is to transform any obstacle that once shut me down into an opportunity that will help myself and my knowledge grow.