By Molly Burke
The start of a new year has many Americans planning their goals for 2023, and Youngstown State University students are no exception.
Dina Fabry, fitness and wellness coordinator at the Andrews Student Recreation and Wellness Center, said that New Year’s resolutions can help people make a change they want to see in their lives.
“We choose New Year’s resolutions because we want to see change within ourselves. Maybe we want to change a bad habit that we’ve had for such a long time,” Fabry said. “We want to set goals to make that change.”
Last year, CBS News reported that 29% of Americans set out to make resolutions in 2022. Despite this, Forbes reported in 2019 that nearly 80% of people fail to honor their resolutions.
Because of the challenge of sustaining New Year’s resolutions, Fabry said she is constantly setting new goals in her life.
“If we’re so used to our routine, it’s really difficult sometimes to step back and realize, ‘I am going to have to do something out of the ordinary.’ So, I think a lot of people use that New Year’s resolution to then make that change and hopefully sustain it too,” Fabry said. “My New Year’s resolution is to try to always set goals and achieve them throughout my whole life.”
Common goals people have are to make new friends, learn a new skill or hit the gym. Freshman forensic science major, Sovi Phy, said she wanted to branch out more in 2023.
“I joined a sorority and [the members] are all really cool, and I think I’d like to get to know them better and become better friends with them,” Phy said.
Valeria Young, a freshman pre-nursing major, said she had a few resolutions in mind.
“I definitely need to go to the gym. I need to get in shape for sports and I’ve been slacking,” Young said. “I’m trying to teach myself sign language.”
A graduate student in the criminal justice program, Stephen Patrick, said he wants to work on getting in shape.
“Since 2018, I’ve lost about 140 pounds, and it has just been a big goal of mine to get in the best shape possible,” Patrick said. “My main goal for 2023 is to try to get a seven minute mile in.”
Patrick said he encourages everyone to never give up on their goals.
“Don’t ever give up on anything, on your dreams, on your goals, because I mean, even if it’s something like getting healthy, I’m a witness to myself. I was literally 320 pounds. I felt like nothing could work for me,” Patrick said. “I kept at it for years and here I am. I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life.”
Jordan Pintar, a sophomore philosophy and anthropology major, said she wanted to go to the Rec Center more.
“I’ve started really getting into working out kind of both as a way to get healthier and to manage stress. So I really enjoy the anaerobic fitness room that they have and also the little yoga classes that they offer during the day,” Pintar said. “I started working on [going to the Rec Center more] this past month and I wanted to make it an official goal for 2023.”
For those seeking help with their fitness goals in 2023, Fabry said there are many resources at the Rec Center.
“We actually offer personal training, where a personal trainer will take you out in the facility and show you how to operate equipment,” Fabry said. “We do have Group X classes. You can go to as many of those as you’d like. Or you could just come in here and work out on your own. You can simply walk on the treadmill for a bit, play basketball or climb the rock wall.”
For more information on Campus Recreation, head to its website.
