The new year is in the starting blocks. What will it bring, how could it go? Six students from all over the world – from Canada to Hungary – told us what they want and what they have planned.
“More time” – Györffy Virág (22) from Hungary, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
“I am a full-time student and also work at my university in Budapest, so I have very little free time. Finding a balance between work and studies is difficult, but not impossible; By managing my time well and setting priorities, I want to be able to manage a life full of responsibilities in 2017. Because the effort is definitely worth it: If I help a student solve a problem or if I get a good grade, it's worth all the work late in the evening or early in the morning.
I also have to hand in my thesis soon - so there will be more sleepless nights and seemingly never-ending visits to the library, but I'm very excited about the future and what it brings. For the world in general, I would like to see a little more patience, respect and kindness - we could make this planet a much better place.”
“Travel, travel, travel” – Myeisha Boyd (21) from the USA, Politics and Government, University of Hartford, USA
“I would like to travel a lot in the coming year. I am currently in the last year of my studies. Seizing opportunities outside your own comfort zone is an important part of studying. In my experience, traveling to different countries and learning about other cultures are some of the best experiences a student can have. In the coming semester I am planning a short study visit to Cuba and I would also like to go to Ireland in the summer of 2017.
Many students tend not to take advantage of all the opportunities that come their way. While I'm young and don't have too many responsibilities, my goal is to travel to as many places as possible. My hope for 2017 is that we will live in a country where people are friendlier to each other and help each other when they are in need.”
“Sky's Not The Limit” – Siung Ghai Chong (24) from Malaysia, Aerospace Engineering and Private Pilot Construction, University of Sheffield, England
“I don't wish for the impossible, like having a dragon as a pet or becoming a millionaire overnight, but for small things that are possible. For me personally, I hope that while I'm studying, I can travel more often and spend more time with my friends and family. Every time I travel I learn more about myself.
These days it's the norm to work a lot, but through traveling I hope to meet lots of interesting people around the world. I've wanted to be an astronaut since I was five years old and haven't stopped dreaming of one day exploring space. As a doctoral student, I strive to acquire the skills necessary for this. I recently achieved a breakthrough in my research and now I hope it will help clarify long-standing questions.
Last but not least, I wish that everyone tries to see the world without prejudice. On my travels I only ever met people who were special in their own way. Our world has so much to offer and we should definitely take advantage of these opportunities to gain valuable experiences for our lives.”
“Master’s degree or entry-level job?” – Leah Dagg (22) from Canada, International Development and Globalization, Business Administration, University of Ottawa, Canada
“For me, 2017 marks the end of an important chapter in my life: completing my bachelor’s degree. My plans are to use my curiosity and what I have learned about myself and the world to create new adventures. Be it by continuing my education and completing a master's degree in journalism or communications abroad, by traveling to places I don't yet know and learning more about other cultures, or by spending a year exploring potential career opportunities - me many doors are open.
I started my studies in International Development in 2013 with the hope of helping to improve the world or at least positively impact the lives of a few people. Now that I'm about to finish my studies, that desire is still there. It has become even stronger as the world needs empathy more than ever.
I hope that in the coming year I will be able to apply the knowledge I gained during my studies in real life, in collaboration with other people and for innovations - all in the knowledge that people are actually good by nature and sometimes just with a little more humanity need to be remembered.”
“Many small steps” – Navya Hebbar (18) from India, journalism, University of Sheffield, England
“As a journalism student, I hope that I can finance my living by making videos or films, for example. For me personally, I would also like to be able to improve a few core skills and work with people from different backgrounds - hopefully I will also make new friends along the way.
For the world in general, I think it would be great if we as a society, as a planet, could place more emphasis on sustainability. We must do more to reduce poverty and inequality, while at the same time enabling inclusion and security. These are big words, of course, but I think we could all take small steps to get there.”
“Neues Wagen” – Chantal Ebner (23) from Austria, political science, University of Salzburg
“The next year will certainly be very exciting, not just politically: the USA has Donald Trump as president, the implementation of the Paris climate protection agreement is entering the hot phase and the fight against the so-called Islamic State is progressing. That would be something if 2017 was remembered as the year in which this regime was overthrown!
But personally, there are a lot of things I would like to achieve in the next year: My two BA studies are coming to an end. A moment that I have been working towards for a long time and that I am looking forward to, but at the same time it also harbors a lot of uncertainty. What will happen after that? Where will I go? To dare to try new things and be courageous, but at the same time to continue to give enough space to all the things in my life that are 'tried and tested', especially my family, my boyfriend and my two godchildren - I hope to be able to master this balancing act for 2017.
In addition to all these top-heavy topics, there should still be enough room for fun, exuberance and spontaneity - life gets serious all by itself.
The new year is in the starting blocks. Six students from all over the world told us what they are planning for 2017.
