Every New Year, I find myself writing a list of resolutions, and every year I wonder: “How am I actually going to accomplish my goals?” This year, I decided to take action and set out to find some answers to my question.
I reached out to other members of the community who were also setting goals for themselves. History Department Chair David Baker, English teacher David Hild, and sophomore Jack Neikre all provided their unique perspective on New Year’s resolutions.
Mr. Baker is well known throughout the KO community for being productive both in and out of the classroom. From juggling the responsibilities of being the History Department Chair to being a father, marathon runner, and proud owner of a blind dog, Mr. Baker does it all.
As shocking as it may seem, Mr. Baker actually doesn’t set traditional New Year’s resolutions for himself. Instead, he sets goals and focuses on creating a plan to accomplish those goals. “A goal of mine this year was to complete an ultramarathon,” he said. “I knew in order to accomplish this goal, I had to set out a weekly plan for myself.”
Mr. Baker also stresses the importance of finding people who have similar goals as you so that they can hold you accountable and you can work towards them together. In Mr. Baker’s case, he often relies on his brother and best friend for support. “We often do our long distance runs with each other and periodically check in with each other to make sure we stay on track to complete our goals,” he said.
Another person who shares a similar outlook on goals is Jack. Rather than setting New Year’s resolutions, he too creates a list of goals. “I don’t usually set out New Year’s resolutions,” he said. “I find it better to make a plan for each set of goals. Whether it be athletic or academic, I like to have a plan.” His goals usually include getting better at sports or making improvements in school. He emphasized the importance of motivation and encouraged others in the KO community to do the same.
Mr. Hild, a beloved longtime member of the community, has had the same long-term goal for the past 11 years: go on some sort of walk or run for two miles each morning. He is happy to say that despite having faced some challenges, he has continuously accomplished his goal for the past 11 years. “Something that helps me accomplish my goals is to just get up and do it,” he said. “Sure, it’s important to make a plan, but it is also important to stick to it.” Mr. Hild hopes to share the importance of following through with your plans in order to achieve the goals those in the KO community have set.
After hearing various thoughts and opinions on New Year’s resolutions, I realized it is important to learn from the process while you try to achieve the goals you have set for yourself.
Mr. Baker highlighted the importance of making a detailed plan and having people around you who will hold you accountable. Similarly, Jack emphasized how useful a plan can be for students who are looking to further their academic and athletic careers. Finally, Mr. Hild shared how important it is to just get out there and do what you set out to do. Everyone should consider these important pieces of advice when thinking about what they hope to accomplish in the New Year and beyond.
