Here we go again. This time, though, it’s costing us $100 more than last semester. Like many, I’m beginning the new year with a set of goals in mind, and I thought I’d share a few.

Failure to reach these goals resulted in a less than stellar fall for me. It was so bad I only dared check OASIS for the outcome on Jan. 7. Why ruin a good vacation?

Once I finally realized how bad last semester was, I recognized an urgent need to do actual work if I want to remain a Bulldog – for free.

Hopefully these goals will keep me on the straight and narrow. At least, for a few weeks.

1. Go to class – personally, not mentally, not WebCT-ally.

1a. Regularly should be defined as not monthly, not weekly, but daily.

1b. Awake – not asleep.

1c. Pay attention while awake (to the professor not my BlackBerry).

2. Buy books – rather than wagering final exam outcomes on the hope of borrowing one later. That didn’t fare well last semester.

2a. Before midpoint – midpoint of the semester, and before I reach the midpoint on a grading scale of 1 to 100 percent.

2b. Use the books and actually study.

For academics, I figure that’s a good start.

But school isn’t the only reason we’re here.

There are other aspects of my life I’d do well to improve on.

3. Quit smoking. This involves changing my personal definition of the word “quit” to match that of an actual dictionary’s.

4. Drive better more frequently. There likely are other people on the road who also need to get somewhere safely.

5. Drink more, less. (That one is meant to be ambiguous.)

Anyone who knows me can tell you – some will do so eagerly – I’ve got many more faults that need fixing.

But no one’s perfect, and if these last more than a few weeks, it’ll be a good start.

- Vince Hampton is a news staff writer for The Red & Black.