Written by Dey Bautista, Ara Maniego, and Mac Montoya

It’s hard to believe that we’re only one month into the new decade. But yes, it’s only been a month since that seemingly momentous passing of time has once again fueled us to evaluate our lives, to decide what we’ll be leaving in 2019, and to commit to new goals for 2020. Since then, a lot of shocking, saddening news has filled our timelines, which might have been enough to shake us from our resolve and distract us from our new year’s resolutions.

So, this is us officially offering you a fresh start (because why not and time is a social construct anyway). Here are seven things you’ll need to (at least try to) stay focused and positive for the rest of the year.

1. Your old pictures

There’s no shame in admitting that we love taking photos, whether it’s with the phones we always keep in our pockets or the vintage film cameras we love hoarding. In any case, our photos hold our memories, and with them the lessons we’ve learned throughout the years.

So, it’s a good idea to keep your old photos with you to remind you of those pivotal ~life lessons~ you swore you’d never forget. This same principle also applies to old diaries, journals, and even old trinkets like movie tickets or food wrappers (if you’re a real sentimental-hoarder type). After all, we keep those memories and lessons for a reason. Let them guide you as you push through a (relatively) new year.

2. An updated contacts list

As you hold on to your cherished memories, you must also know which ones to let go. In the spirit of KonMari-ing everything, try to update your phone’s contacts list as well. It’s a great opportunity for you to evaluate whether or not you really want to keep in touch with, say, that random dude you met a year ago at a sem-ender party.

We may not be aware of it 100% of the time, but the people we’re constantly in touch with greatly influence who we are and what kind of life we’re living. So, try and make sure that you surround yourself with friends that you truly believe are good for you; and make sure you’re good for them, too.

3. A solid support group

As you know, there are four years of excruciating stress in college, and life in general. However, if you have a good bunch of friends beside you, the excruciating stress won’t go away but at least you’ll have great friends to go through it together. In those four years of college, acquaintances will turn into friends and eventually, family.

4. Index cards

Let’s shift gears a little. Almost every subject you’ll be in will require you to have an index card––more specifically, in size 3×5 and if you’re feeling a little frisky, Cattleya’s the way to go. As seniors, we’ve seen these index cards in full blown power. From graded recitations to impromptu speeches to even building the highest index card towers for different professors––these cards are well above-average college cheat codes.

5. A 2020 journal

With every semester comes academic demands and requirements, social interactions, personal goals, and even student organization tasks. The plethora of things to do may seem overwhelming, so it would help greatly to keep a personal journal or planner to keep things in check. It’s undoubted that as a college student, you have lots of things to track and priorities to keep in mind. Given all of these things, it’s beneficial to plan ahead.

6. Yellow pad

Quizzes and seatworks are inescapable as a college student, but it has been apparent that we have a culture in UPM that majority, if not a number of people, don’t bring yellow pads. You can’t deny that you’ve never asked for a ¼ sheet from a seatmate, or vice versa. It is important to be ready when the inevitable scenario comes when your professor asks you to bring out a sheet of yellow pad.

7. A powerbank

As members of Generation Z, or some even considered as millennials, our phones are the most important thing we need with us before we leave the house. You can recall numerous scenarios where your phone dies when you have something important to do, or even generally when you’re out. It’s best to keep a powerbank with you at all times so you can be contacted easily when it’s needed.

The year 2020, including the years ahead, are like roads shrouded in fog. We don’t know what lies ahead of us, but what we do know is that we have no choice but to keep walking onward to our destination. Though the future may be filled with mystery and uncertainty, it is best that we remain prepared for what we do know might happen; with simple things such as bringing a yellow pad or index card, to more sentimental things like holding onto our memories. As said, the road may be unclear, yet we can only tread onward. So, why not be ready for anything, right?