Well, it seems that the Mayans must have struggled in Math 101 because December 2012 has come and passed and the world seems to be doing (relatively) fine. With the new year now in full swing, it’s time to make good on those ambitious midnight resolutions before this year’s promises become next year’s regrets.

Maybe you’ve vowed to shed a few pounds, (without the temptation of Ding-Dongs, Ho-Ho’s, and Twinkies, this might be do-able this year) or perhaps arriving on time to class is your lofty goal of 2013. As we all have figured out by this point, keeping to a resolution is easier said than done, and requires a ton of commitment, but for those of you ambitious enough to take on one more, how about making 2013 your year to get more involved on campus? To me, there is no better way to do this than by becoming a part of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona.

ASUA offers UA students the opportunity to make impactful decisions, work on important projects and gain extremely valuable experiences in leadership, teamwork and more. And with more than 100 students participating in ASUA, it’s also a great way to meet other people who are driven, motivated and want to leave behind a lasting legacy on the UA campus.

Currently, ASUA is holding elections for ASUA president, executive vice president, administrative vice president and 10 ASUA senators. Running in an ASUA election is an experience in itself. Being a candidate allows you to put your ideas out there and commit to making changes for the better on campus. You’ll work hard, meet tons of new people — and who knows, maybe you’ll win. Then, you would get the entire next year to work on a project that is important to you and that could really improve our school.

Members of ASUA work each year to bring you programs such as ZonaZoo, Safe Ride, Spring Fling and so much more. Students that become a part of ASUA also have unique opportunities to interact with university staff members to work on policy changes, program implementation and other important projects.

Come to the ASUA office on the third floor of the Student Union Memorial Center and you will see a group of students who are truly committed to making their mark on the UA. Nobody, not even the people in ASUA, thinks that this place is perfect. It takes students that are committed to making changes for us to work toward improving. Why not be a part of that group next year?

So if you are already bowing out of finishing P90X, or if you are finding yourself cheating on your diet, procrastinating on your school work and not calling your parents more often, why not switch it up and resolve to make a difference?

Pick up a packet from the front desk in the ASUA offices and run for an elected position. If the spotlight is not for you then find a friend, tell them all of your good ideas, convince them to pick up a packet and become their campaign manager.