Resolutions

Community members and allies make plans for the new year

By Laura Latzko

Wishes for 2012

Community members share resolutions and goals for the new year

In preparation for when the clock turns to midnight and the year turns to 2012, many locals are making plans and resolutions for the new year. Others have plans and wishes that will carry into years to come.

Many people plan to make strides in their personal lives, career or education in 2012. Others hope to grow personally or see larger-scale changes take place in 2012.

Community members are voicing their expectations for the next year.

Andrew Camacho, a student in the therapeutic massage program at Phoenix College, said he will be adjusting to life in an apartment after selling his house in November. In the next year, he said he wishes greater emotional and financial success for everyone around him. Camacho, who plans to spend more time with family and friends, will start off the New Year continuing his seven-year New Year's Eve tradition of making tamales with his friends.

Will Smith and Tomy Alberts, boyfriends for seven years, said they plan to spend more time working toward getting in shape. Alberts, who works in the medical field, said he also wants to work on curing his shyness.

Matt Juan, a computer technician and a stonework and beadwork artist, said that he wants to travel to the east coast with his partner of 13 years to see Massachusetts, Washington D.C., upstate New York and Maine. He said that he hopes to continue to stay sober after being sober for 31 years and live a healthier lifestyle so he will lose weight.

Laurie Colton, a high school teacher, said that she hopes to make major repairs to her home, a house built in 1902. She said that the biggest problems with the house are "potholes" in her living room, a homemade shed she refers to as "Satan's shed" and the lack of a bathroom door.

Daniel Bollman, who works in a retail job, said that in the new year, he plans spend more time with friends and family members, including his three children and his partner of about six years, and spend less time at work. He said he would also like to mentor youth through volunteering.

Jeffrey Williams, a student at ASU West, said he plans to continue to work toward a doctorate degree in education, including working on his dissertation about literacy in high school students.

Steve Salyer; Santa Steve Steve Salyer, who goes by Santa Steve during the holidays and works for IBM, said in the next year he is eager to see if Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton will keep his campaign promise to work to increase LGBT rights in Phoenix.

Kevin Jessup, a therapist, said the time has come for him to focus on his spiritual growth. He said after establishing himself professionally, he wants to nurture his creative side through working on sculpture and other artwork.

David Sweeney, the owner of a massage therapy business, said he plans to grow his small business. He started the business in 2011 and in 2012 he would like to double the number of his clients.

Partners Brian Holohan and Jason Bird said they don't believe in resolutions because people usually don't keep them. But Bird said that if he could change anything in the next year, he would quit his smoking habit of 23 years. -E