For many students, the beginning of a new semester can be a time to reflect on the past and make new goals for the future. In preparation for the spring semester at Guilford College, many students have made goals that they want to accomplish and changes that they want to make. At Guilford, students have expressed excitement for their upcoming classes, sporting events and campus events.

“I’m pretty much looking forward to all of my classes,” said senior psychology and German studies double-major Finn Shepherd. “They all seem really interesting.”

While some students focused more on academics, others are taking the time to reflect on personal goals. As the spring semester begins with the new year, many students have aligned their resolutions and goals with their experience at Guilford.

“I want to explore and figure out what major I want to do and also take advantage of the liberal arts education that Guilford has to offer,” said first-year Rabia Kang. “I would also like to go the gym more, spend less money and get a good standardized score.”

Students have also displayed their anticipation for some of the upcoming and traditional campus events for this semester.

“Serendipity will probably be interesting,” Shepherd said. “I’ve not yet (gone) to Serendipity, but I’m considering it just as one of my last things to do before graduation.”

In terms of campus life, a Study Abroad Fair, as well as a Japanese Teaching Kitchen have been scheduled for next week. The Guilford Dance Marathon will also be occurring in late January. These events will give students and the rest of the Guilford community an opportunity to connect with each other.

In addition to students, staff and faculty members have also identified their goals for this semester. New courses have started at Guilford and professors continue to formulate new proposals for courses in future semesters.

“Of course, I want to teach my classes well and I want to do some more developed research based on my dissertation in hopes of writing a book,” said Associate Professor of History Zhihong Chen. “I’ve been planning several new courses, like one pertaining to the history of Americans in Asia. I’ve also planned a course dealing with samurais in word and image, and another about modern Korean history.”

In order to adjust to the Guilford Edge, many departments have had to make modifications to their student requirements and courses. Some of these changes have already begun taking place this semester.

“We revised our history major requirements and curriculum for the edge. For example, we added new 3-week intensive courses and some new study away or abroad courses are planned,” Chen said. “I am personally excited for the possibilities, but I wonder about the resources supporting these opportunities.”

As the spring semester continues to progress, many new events will surface. This semester is an opportunity for a fresh start at Guilford and presents a chance to have new experiences.