High Life : Being Resolute on Promises for Change in the New Year

Ring out with the old, ring in the new.

With the beginning of a new year tomorrow, it’s time to make those traditional promises to ourselves for a better life. Perhaps we’re looking to improve ourselves, or others, or our surroundings.

Hot Topics wonders, “What’s your New Year’s resolution?”

“To not be so critical of myself. I need to be happy with what I have done, if I did my best.”

Susie Krum, 15,

sophomore, Edison

“To practice random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.”

Marija Strazdas, 17,

senior, El Dorado

“To get better grades.”

Therese Vu, 14,

freshman, Los Amigos

“To eat less of my absolute favorite sweet, which is chocolate. I can’t live without it!”

Susanne Garcia, 16,

junior, Trabuco Hills

“Not to cheat.”

Long Huynh, 17,

senior, Huntington Beach

“To start my research paper a full month before it’s due. . . . Yeah, right.”

Leslie Cho, 16,

junior, Marina

“To respect my family, quit playing ‘Street Fighter,’ and to try harder in school.”

Allan Abutin, 17,

senior, Brea-Olinda

“To concentrate on controlling my temper with my parents. I will think about what I am going to say and word what I say more carefully to them.”

Erin Baker, 15,

sophomore, Edison

“To stop procrastinating.”

Hwalling Coffey, 17,

senior, Los Amigos

“To never leave peanut butter on a utensil and put it in the dishwasher.”

Jennifer Dirks, 17,

senior, El Dorado

“To do better in school.”

Hieu Hoang, 17,

junior, Huntington Beach

“To raise at least $1,000 by the end of 1993.”

Clifford Mosely, 17,

senior, Trabuco Hills

“To help the homeless. They need to know how good it feels to have a place to call home.”

Alice Chung, 16,

junior, Marina

“To respect my parents more and start studying for the SAT.”

Audrey Ho, 16,

junior, Brea-Olinda

“To think through what I say before saying it, so as not to unintentionally offend or hurt someone.”

Rob Teitelbaum, 15,

sophomore, Edison

“To calm down.”

Oliver Chin, 16,

junior, Huntington Beach

“To spend more time with my family. I’ve been bogged down with large amounts of school work, baseball and working. I haven’t spent quality time with them for about a year.”

Carrey Smith, 17,

senior, Trabuco Hills

“To succeed in college.”

Jenny Li, 17,

senior, Brea-Olinda

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What do your parents most often lecture you about?