BYU-Hawaii students’ predictions for 2013 revolved around personal goals like graduating, serving missions and getting married. World events, like changes in the U.S. and international economies and hopes for fewer devastating natural disasters, were also on their lists.More than 15 students in and around the Aloha Center were asked about their predictions for the New Year on Jan. 9 as an assignment for the Comm 211 Media Writing class. “2013 is going to bring lots of changes,” said Megan Tiritilli, a sophomore in social work from Temecula, Calif. “I plan to graduate with my associate’s degree, turn in my mission papers and travel the summer before I leave. This year is about accomplishing some of my greatest life-long goals.”Jarvis Yau, a senior in finance and marketing from Hong Kong, commented, "It's funny how Apple's iPhones are getting bigger, while the iPads are getting smaller. Eventually they're gonna end up to be the same size." Additionally, he thinks “the U.S. economy may crash because of Obama's policies,” and that since "we do everything online now, I think some of the major schools will start doing more online classes."Spencer Davis, a sophomore in marine biology from Las Vegas, Nev., said, "People are going to graduate, babies are going to be born, and hopefully, the hales will be done.” Makenzie Pineda, a freshman in psychology from American Fork, Utah, also commented on the building being done on campus. "I want the school to finish its construction,” she said, and "I want to get good grades and make a lot of money."Pineda also hoped she wouldn’t “get a scary illness," which she defined as “anything that would keep me from accomplishing goals I've set for 2013." Lisa Tuttle, a junior in EXS from Torrence, Calif., said, “I think that there are going to be a lot of social changes with the mission age changes. Dating is going to be a lot different because of the new standard of girls going. I don’t think there will be as many freshmen boys coming in. That year in between high school and missions is now going to be made up of freshmen girls.”Sheldon Madeiras, a freshman in math from Saratoga Springs, Utah, predicts he “will serve a mission in Portugal … or China ... or Taiwan,” and he hopes "the Broncos will win the Superbowl.” Chris Nartker, a freshman in biology Idaho, said he would also like to serve a mission in 2013.Allie Jenson, a freshman in graphic design from Utah, said, "I want to see myself get my associate’s degree and the economy to get better. I don't think anything crazy is going to happen."Sam Todd, a freshman with an undeclared major from Hauula, said, "The world isn't going to end. If the world was going to end, it would have happened already.” He added, “I hope the economy gets better." However, Kassandra McGonagel, a senior in EXS from Eden, Utah, predicts economic woes. “I think that there will be a second Great Depression and that China is going to stop selling to us and take over." Personally, she said she wants to graduate and go to physician’s assistant school. “Hopefully, I will be happy as well."Brittany Polling, a senior in EXS from California, said, "I want to get married. I'm engaged, so it'd be nice if it actually happened."Another EXS major who would like to get is Corallee Alexander, a freshman from California. "One of my predictions for 2013 is I would like to be married at the Salt Lake Temple in Utah.” She said she’d like to have five bridesmaids and five groomsmen all dressed in pale colors of silver, white and ivory. “Also I would like to see the [BYUH] softball team end that 13-year streak going on with a 500 winning percentage,” meaning winning more games than losing.Marita Brown, junior in social work from Atlanta, Georgia, also has high hopes for a favorite sports team. "I'd like to see the Lakers make the playoffs and win the championship.” Commenting on her personal goals, Brown said, she’d like to have perfect attendance in her classes and get A’s and B’s. Plus her “budgeting will improve because my parents refuse to keep funding my Taco Bell runs."Brooke Butler, a sophomore in social work from California, said she wants to get her associate’s degree in August and then travel the world. “Maybe go backpacking through Asia in Thailand, India, Vietnam,” she said. “I am so nervous about international tensions; especially going abroad you see it from a different perspective.” Another thing she hopes will happen is “I’d also like to see my boyfriend investigate the church.”Butler fears she “won’t be able to get a job after college since there are not a lot of career opportunities for people our age. This is when we’re all looking for more than just minimum wage jobs.”Litia Garr, a sophomore in marketing from Tooele, Utah, also commented on the U.S. economy. “I hope that gas prices stay under $3. When I go back to the mainland, I will have to commute for an hour, and so that would help with costs.”Manki Wong, a senior majoring in ICS-Communication from Hong Kong, said her predictions for 2013 are she wants to graduate from school, have a boyfriend, and do an internship in a disadvantaged country. She wants to lose 20 pounds by eating less and exercising more. Some things she doesn’t want to happen in 2013 are more terrible natural disasters and people dying.Ben Schmit, a senior in ICS Communications from Los Angeles, said in 2013 "I hope to graduate” and that “I won’t have to take another semester in school."
Writer: LeeAnn Lambert & Communications 211 class
