In less than 9 hours, it will be 2011!! 2010 will officially be over and be in the past. With the New Year looming close in the future, I have decided that it might be a good idea to think back on the past year and think forward on the coming year. I feel that I should share these reflections and resolutions on the blog so that prospective students (as well as everyone else) can get an idea of my reflections on a first semester at AU! My reflections and resolutions are below. I’d love to know what your reflections and resolutions so post a comment if you want to share.

2010 Reflections

1. Graduating from high school.
2. Accepted to AU and choosing to attend.
3. Arriving at AU on August 14th.
4. Working for the National Park Service at their Brentwood Facility during the Freshman Service Experience.
5. Glenn Beck/Sarah Palin and Rev. Al Sharpton Rallies on the same day.
6. Becoming an AU Ambassador and getting to lead tours around campus, chat online, and write fun blog posts.
7. Volunteering for the Kennedy Political Union and getting to see Chris Matthews, Van Jones, Michael Dukakis, and Gloria Steinem and getting to meet Rudy Giuliani and the Young Guns (Congressmen Cantor (R-VA), Ryan (R-WI), and McCarthy (R-CA)).
8. Rally to Restore Sanity/Keep Fear Alive.
9. SmashHits Tennis Event in AU’s Bender Arena to raise money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. The event featured Sir Elton John, Billy Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf and more.
10. Seeing the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree.

2011 Resolutions

1. Serve as a resource for prospective students by leading tours, online chats, and continuing to blog. 🙂
2. Do well in my courses.
3. Plan and have a worthwhile summer (whether I come home, stay in DC, or spend my summer somewhere else).
4. Continue to volunteer for the Kennedy Political Union.
5. Take advantage of DC – educationally, socially, culturally, historically.
6. Celebrate each new day.
7. Form relationships with my professors. Use them because they are there for me.
8. Meet new people.
9. Make the most of my time – try not to waste it all away.
10. Get exercise. (Go to the gym, play tennis, take the stairs, walk to the Metro, continue my nightly walks around campus).
11. Make a difference! Whatever it takes, it is important to make a difference and it doesn’t matter what form that difference takes on. I can: volunteer in the community, help someone with homework, influence a prospective student’s decision…

Well, there you have my 2010 reflections and my 2011 resolutions! Hope everyone had a wonderful 2010. May 2011 bring joy and happiness to everyone. To current AU students: I hope your Spring and Fall semesters go well. (To AU seniors: Congratulations – you are going to graduate!! Hope you’ve enjoyed your time at AU and best wishes for graduate school or the job market, whichever follows graduation.) To prospective AU students: I hope the rest of your senior year isn’t too stressful and that you receive a giant blue envelope with your AU admission decision.

Best wishes for 2011,
Nathan

P.S. I put 10 2010 reflections and 11 2011 resolutions on purpose. haha 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the blog post.