As a year comes to a close, many people try preparing for the new year in many ways including planning for trips or vacations, losing weight, learning something exciting, throwing parties or spending time with friends and family. When Jan. 1 approaches, those plans turn into goals and resolutions geared toward a successful new year. Now that it’s the end of February, resolutions are in full swing and now is the time to revisit those goals and reflect if they will be accomplished moving forward.

Antioch Community High School students have made their own resolutions for the year of 2014 and hope to complete their goal by Dec. 31st of this year.

Senior Sinclair Guntharp said this year she wants to think more positively.

“I made this my resolution so that I can be a happier person and not worry as much as I do about the little things. I read that you can ‘retrain your brain’ to be more positive by reminding yourself of three things you’re thankful for at the end of the day. So I’ve just been counting my blessings and trying to remind myself of how lucky I am and how happy I should be,” said Guntharp.

Being more positive in life can create better outcomes and eventually will lead to success later in life. For instance, it increases one’s ability to trust others and have strong relationships.

Former ACHS student Hannah Epker hopes to become a vegan this year in order to better her health and life.

“There are multiple reasons that have inspired me to go vegan this year. Eating vegan for even a temporary amount of time in your life can decrease health risks such as heart disease, increased BMI, and diabetes—all of which are apparent in my family history. The complaint I regularly receive from people when I talk about veganism is usually complaints that I’m ‘trying to save the animals’ which is not the case, though it’s still incredibly inhumane and barbaric. The main reason I want to become vegan is in response to the alarming rate of greenhouse gases produced from the transportation, storage, and production of animal based products,” said Epker.

Epker is planning to be completely vegan by the end of 2014.

“It’s a process that will affect my health, association with family meals, such as Thanksgiving dinner and summer BBQ’s, and even how I grocery shop! It’s exciting and full of new possibilities,” said Epker.

Junior Alanah Bonney wants to look better for the new year with her friends and also go to more country concerts this year.

“I know a common resolution is to lose weight or to go on a diet, but what my friends and I are doing is trying to get all of our friends together (even people from Lakes)  to workout  and look good for 2014. Also a resolution that I have just for myself is to beat going to more than 10 country music concerts in a year,” said Bonney.

Being able to workout with friends will help you stay committed to your goal and will keep you motivated until you get the results you want.

Senior Taylor Brandon says that this year she wants to save as much money as possible for her trip to London and Paris with the school.

“I will be saving up the money for the London and Paris trip for spring break by saving half of each paycheck I get until we leave for the trip,” said Brandon.

Resolutions may not always be easy to keep, but with a little help from friends and having a lot of  motivation it can always be possible to achieve.