Whatever our New Year’s resolutions are, one thing no one wishes is to surrender to the same bad choices of 2017 when faced with similar crossroads. Whether it is serious or trivial, we all have a regret or two echoing in our minds that we never have the chance to speak up about. We can find hope and move on only when we reflect upon our choices. The Granite Tower (GT) asked four Korea University (KU) students to answer this question before they kick off into yet another fresh semester; if you could turn back time, what is one thing that you would do differently from last year?

 

Looking back, I wish I could have quit smoking a little earlier. When I think of last year, I feel like I would be so much better off if I had just stopped before I left for military service. Although I am well aware of the side effects that come from early smoking, it was not easy to stay committed to my determination all the time. My wish for 2018 is that I am continually nicotine-free for the rest of the year as I am at the moment. I hope that sticking with this promise helps me mature as a more responsible person this year.

If I could do one thing differently from last year, I would definitely tell myself to watch out for the classes that I sign up for. When the end of the year rolled around, I thought about my schedule again and could not help feeling that I just did not sign up for the right classes. I now regret registering courses I was not really interested in; I really do not want to make this same mistake this time. I will be paying much closer attention to the plan sheet and check out what is taught and what the professor is really like before I go sign up for a certain course.

If I could change one thing about last year, I would challenge myself to follow what my heart wants to pursue even more. I would tell my 2017 self to participate in various types of clubs. As for now, I am currently a part of an academic conference that is strictly related to my major, as well as an English debate club. Since I was so invested in my academic conference and my work in school, I felt as if I was not able to give my all by actively participating in the debate club or trying something new. If I were to turn back time, I would like to not only stay focused on my school work or my academic conference but also try the travel club or the sommelier

club as well.

I highly regret not actively searching for a club that I am passionate about and joining it. Now that I think about it, I see that everyone else I knew was all part of a certain club or group. I was so caught up in freshman life and getting used to the campus that I never really thought I would come to regret not belonging somewhere. I am a sophomore now, and I do not get to take as many classes with people I knew last