{"id":148628,"date":"2023-01-12T12:14:08","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T11:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=148628"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:35","slug":"better-flossing-and-an-end-to-war-thats-what-students-want-in-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/01\/12\/better-flossing-and-an-end-to-war-thats-what-students-want-in-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Better flossing and an end to war, that’s what students want in 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

From eating healthier to supporting struggling Russian friends and an end to the war in Ukraine, students have plenty of good intentions, wishes and mottos for 2023.<\/p>\n

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Charlotte van de Pol and Noor Eliens<\/span><\/p>

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Tobias Jellema<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cThis year, I want to maintain a clearer separation between my private life and my studies\u201d, says Tobias Jellema (22, Management of Innovation). Last semester, he noticed that he was not making good use of his free time. \u201cThat created a lot of stress; I constantly had the feeling hanging over my head that I was supposed to be doing something for my classes.\u201d<\/p>\n

In order to strike a healthier balance, he has drawn up a plan for this year, \u201cI\u2019m going to make a to-do list and schedule specific times in advance for studying and relaxation.\u201d Tobias thinks that strict self-discipline is the best approach. \u201cSo no watching Netflix when you\u2019re supposed to be working and no working during your free time.\u201d<\/p>\n

War in Ukraine <\/h2>
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Kristina Rusalovych<\/span><\/p>

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Kristina Rusalovych (21, Communication and Media) has plenty of resolutions, too. She wants to travel more, for instance, and is planning to write original songs and produce music. Besides New Year\u2019s resolutions, the Ukrainian student also has wishes for the new year. \u201cMost of all, of course, I hope we win the war and Ukraine flourishes again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other than that, like every year, Kristina hopes that her friends and family continue to be in good health. She explains the best way to approach making resolutions, \u201cTake a moment for yourself, alone in your room, and think about what you really want \u2013 what is important to you. Then write that down.\u201d And does it work? \u201cYou have to go into it with good intentions and truly believe you can achieve your goals, and then it works.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Andrei Moskvin<\/span><\/p>

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For Russian student Andrei Moskvin (24, Urban Management & Development), thoughts of the new year are coloured by the war in Ukraine as well. His resolutions for last year fell through because of the war. \u201cI try to learn new skills every year, but I was in shock when the war started, so then things sort of went downhill with my resolutions.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year, Andrei hopes to offer better emotional support to his friends in Russia. \u201cThe situation is really stressful for them. They don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on, so everyone is afraid. It also means they can\u2019t make any plans for the future.\u201d In addition to emotional support, Andrei also provides his friends and family with information about the war. \u201cI have access to both Russian and Western news, but they can only get the Russian side of the story.\u201d Luckily, he has a more light-hearted resolution as well. \u201cI want to speak fluent Dutch by the end of this academic year, so I can get a job in the Netherlands after graduation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mottos, not resolutions<\/h2>
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Sem van der Panne<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cI use mottos, not New Year\u2019s resolutions\u201d, says Sociology student Sem van der Panne (22). Sem explains that resolutions do not work because, according to her, you cannot become a different person overnight. \u201cA motto is gentler for yourself than a resolution: it expresses a wish for yourself, and you can repeat it whenever you\u2019re having a hard time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sem came up with the idea for a motto based on the wishes people exchange in the holiday season. \u201cYou spend the whole time wishing other people things like \u2018Merry Christmas\u2019 and \u2018Happy New Year\u2019. So then I decided to think about what I would wish for myself in the new year.\u201d Now, every year around the holidays, Sem and her younger brother come up with a motto for the upcoming year. Mottos for previous years were \u2018I can find the fun in this\u2019 and \u2018Everyone is welcome\u2019. \u201cThis year\u2019s motto is: \u2018Things will work out in the end\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Charlotte van de Pol en Noor Eliens<\/span><\/p>

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The majority of students at the campus have more modest resolutions. \u201cI want to floss better\u201d, master student Charlotte van de Pol (23) says in the library. Noor Eliens (23) is sitting next to her. She adds, \u201cI want to eat a piece a fruit every day.\u201d Do they have any other New Year\u2019s resolutions? \u201cMaybe to send fewer payment requests to friends \u2013 I\u2019ll try to be a little more laid-back about that\u201d, says Charlotte. Noor considers for a moment. \u201cI think I\u2019m going to help more people who need to conduct interviews on campus, like you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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