I know it seems slightly late for this, but I’m guessing now’s about the time we’ve all given up on our personal resolutions – losing weight, quitting smoking, cutting down on the dogging. You know, the usual.

So if anyone’s sitting there feeling like a failure for driving up to that lay by on the way to Withernsea last night, here’s your chance for retribution.

Ask not what your city can do for you, but what you can do for your city…

Education

The way a lot of our schools are going at the minute, it’ll be a wonder if the teenagers of Hull will ever come out of their GCSEs in one piece. I won’t be naming names, but at one East Hull secondary school last year, only 10 per cent of pupils achieved five A* to C passes.

Now, I know from personal experience that kids in Hull ARE NOT STUPID. I’m one of them. (I’m 19). So what’s the root cause? They have no consistency around them at school. The students at the school in question had to endure 40 teachers leaving in the past two years and up to 23 teachers at any one time being supply teachers.

Who’s there in the establishment for the students to look up to? Who’s there for them to win approval and recognition from? Seven different teachers for one subject in one year, that’s who.

I know it’s not something that can be changed with a click of our fingers, but come on people, get a grip and take some responsibility for the one’s who’ll be carrying on the legacy of Hull and probably brushing your teeth and wiping your arse for you 50 years from now.

Think about it.

Rebuilding OUR Economy

Upon my brief return to Holderness Road before Christmas, I was deeply saddened to see that almost all of the shops just past Mount Pleasant have closed down. There are only the Pawn Shop and the members-only pub left.

I don’t give a Flying Bible what’s across the road from them; ASDA, KFC and JJB mean less than nothing to me. What’s important is that our home-grown sole traders and small partnerships are able to open their businesses around there again. I don’t know about you but I certainly don’t want to end up living in Franchise-Land.

Anything we can do to help the independent stores needs to be done ASAP. Just shopping with them now and then, or even buying a couple of items every few weeks will make a difference! If we all make the effort then we can rebuild OUR city.

It is ours, not ASDA’s.

Don’t Get Too Big For Your Boots

Now before you decide I need to be hung, drawn and quartered, understand that I’m not saying you can’t do well for yourself just because you’re from Hull. I mean, by the looks of it I’m set to be the next female Prime Minister so I’m not planning on holding anyone else back.

No, what I’m trying to say is just remember where you came from.

When the day arrives that you become a famous singer, artist or novelist, a world renowned architect, preacher or scientist, take the time to remember who put you there. Remember the streets you grew up on and the friends you called for every night after school.

We put Hull on the map, now let’s keep it there!