NATCHEZ — After the champagne is gone and the fireworks have faded, the time has come to get to work on the toughest part of New Year’s traditions — making New Year’s resolutions.

The new year is a big year for Natchez, marking the start of the city’s 300th birthday celebration. Based on the resolutions of some of its residents and visitors, 2016 will shape up to be a big year for them too.

Deniscia Evans, 28, who lives in Natchez, said she wants to take classes for tax preparation.

Her grandfather prepared taxes for 50 years in Los Angeles. Evans grew up watching her grandfather and became fascinated with the subject.

“That’s my New Year’s resolution — to become a certified tax preparer,” Evans said.

For some though, the name of the game is taking care of themselves, their family and others, in more ways than one.

Clarence Barnes, 59, of Natchez, said he hopes that God blesses him and his family. He also intends to keep up his health and strength with exercise and eating right.

Natchez resident Elijah Holmes, 58, wants to continue to do good for others.

“I would like to live and be happy and continually not hating anybody,” Holmes said.

Natchez resident Sarah Grace Stewart, 9, also wants to do good for others, in her own way.

“I want to be better to people,” Stewart said.

In particular Stewart said she wanted to help others and use good manners. Her mother, Kristie Stewart, 45, said that, despite how hectic her life can be at times, she wants “to stop and smell the roses more often.”

Dale Matheney, 21, is another resolution-maker who wants to make more time for certain things in his life.

Although Matheney is from Natchez, he currently attends school at Ole Miss. With everything that’s going on in college, Matheney said he doesn’t go to Mass as often as once did.

He hopes to change that in 2016.

“It’s just good to go in there and hear the sermon, receive Communion, stuff like that,” Matheney said.

But, whatever the resolution, all of them have one thing in common. Just like the New Year, resolutions start now.