Dear Readers,

    By now, the year 2011 is well under way. My new year started with a countdown to the new year with family and the Times Square celebrations roaring in the background on TV.

    Immediately my return to the Princeton campus ensued, marking the end of my two-week winter break. Our break was much shorter than the month-long vacations that other universities have the pleasure of enjoying, but Princeton is also the only institution I know of that holds finals after winter break and starts classes in late September.

    There are trade-offs to everything, aren’t there? Speaking of which, 2010 for the world was, in my opinion, a mixed bag of surprises. There was great economic news for the U.S. markets (especially in the last month of the year), but volatility was not lacking. In Europe, sovereign debt was a major issue for many governments, but some optimism lies in the European Union’s collective intervention. In Asia, our nation is still booming with careful regulations implemented for financial institutions by the People’s Bank, although there is still tension on the Korean Peninsula. I feel there is always a sense of happiness that is accompanied by some disappointment or other, yet, for the most part, things are always looking up.

    The same goes for the start of a new year, I think. We can not neglect our feelings of slight sorrow when reminiscing our past and history, as we holler and cheer for a promising new beginning.

    When we leave a place, time or memory, we rarely readily embrace change without turning back for a final glimpse of what had been. It is also natural, however, that we look back less frequently as we experience what is in the present and anticipate what is ahead of us.

    So, what are you anticipating? What are your resolutions for the new year? What are you bringing with you from 2010 into 2011? No matter what your answers may be, I am sure they are unique and spectacular. Keep striving and having fun.

    Sincerely, Laiyin