To reflect on 2023 and welcome 2024, The Blue and White asked students and teachers around APK about their hopes for the New Year. When asked, many people didn’t have a firm New Year’s Resolution. Instead, they spoke about consistent behaviors they want to see for themselves, for example, discipline, focus, and keeping their peace. It seems like looking to keep flexibility in their lives and room to grow is the new status quo.
Beginning with the seniors, many of them were focused on plans for their lives after high school. Senior Naomi Delgado said she is preparing for college, “My New Year resolution is getting a full-ride scholarship.”
Others may not be sure of what they want to do after high school. For example, Senior Emmanuel Soufan said, “Last year was pretty fun. It was my junior year. [This year] I plan on just closing the year off well. It‘s the final stretch, you know, just trying to get it over with graduation and figure out what I’m doing after high school. Trying to stay focused with my work and figure out everything but I know it won’t come easy. [I don’t have any] resolutions, but more like goals. It’s just trying to, you know, be a better person, stay focused on what I need to be focused on.”
In addition, Senior Liliana Dominguez also has plans to better herself. She says, “My New Year’s resolution for this year is to level up mentally and financially. I plan on strictly pursuing my dreams and keeping my discipline on track. My last year has been chaotic but productive. I see this year being a milestone in my life.”
In reflection of the last year, Senior Shauntez Horton rates it a 6.5 out of 10. He is hoping this year he will redeem himself in his New Year’s resolution stating, “I’ll try to do as best as I can and make as much of my time as I can.”
Continuing with the underclassmen and juniors, Sophomore Noah Anderson says his New Year’s resolution is to, “Do better in school and get all A’s.” When asked how he’d do that he planned to study more. Junior Alyssa Riley explains her New Year resolution, she said, “ I want to focus on school and to keep my peace. I’m sticking to my word and just doing my own thing. I didn’t make any resolutions last year, so it was good considering not making any goals.” When asked how her last year went she said, “So far? It’s been going well so hopefully it will be the same [as last year].”
Many teachers had different goals and aspirations for the upcoming year. Starting with Ms. Ramirez when asked if she had a New Year’s resolution she said she didn’t have one. She said, “I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, over time I learned I don’t have to make a resolution for myself at a specific time. New Year’s doesn’t feel like a new year to me until I get my schedule for the next school year. I don’t want to put myself in a box and want to always aim higher for goals whenever it feels needed and not just stick to one goal and put the other one off for next year.” Her reasoning is that running a ceramics class can be a little hectic. She always finds herself battling organization which is why new goals always have to be made.
When interviewing Mrs. Houvouras, she focused on finding ways to wind down and spend more time on herself and spending time with her grandkids since last year. When asked why she said,” I think I‘ve forgotten how to relax and that life is not just all about work and having to do things and get tasks done. So I‘m trying to get to the point where I can just sit and read a book, watch a show, or play with my grandkids without this thought. In the back of my head of what jobs should I be getting done. I feel like a lot of people struggle with that.” She spoke about how especially in our society women tend to be nagged with small things like chores or always having to be productive.
Ms. McDonald’s is also excited for a fresh start at starting her personal journey, “For the New Year I’m hoping to have a cool second half of the school year and celebrate with seniors this year. This is my fourth or fifth year in the school, and I have a lot of seniors this year and I’m happy to see them graduating. My New Year’s resolution is to go to the gym more often or to go like four times a week but I want to up it to five this year.“ When asked about her reflections on last year. Did I reach my goals for last year? No, because I also said I was gonna go to the gym five times a week and that didn’t quite pan out but we’re going for this year.“
Focusing on goal setting, balance, productivity, and having a plan is a great start to the new year. Personal goals keep you moving forward to get through the rest of the school year without burnout or a loss of motivation.
