For the new year of 2003, there are many resolutions that I have made to improve my life. They include: quitting smoking, making more money, working harder, and getting my GED.

The most important resolution is to quit smoking. The price of cigarettes has gone up and so have the cancer risks. If I want to be around to see my child grow up, this is a good start.

My second resolution is just as important as the first. It is to work harder towards my goals. My goals are to make more money, to support my baby, and to start my own business. I chose these goals because I want my son to have everything that I didn’t have when I was a kid; things such as a stable roof over his head, cool toys, and a TV.

My final resolution is to get my GED. If I can get my GED, then I can accomplish anything and move on with my life. When people ask me where I graduated from, I won’t have to look down and say, “I dropped out.” I can say I took my time and got my education at night. I want to get my GED so that when my son gets older and goes to college, I can go with him.

The resolutions I choose are very important to me because each one of them determines the rest of my life and my child’s life.

James Reid is a Pre-GED student at The Clinton Adult Learning Center.